Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-10-15
A GRAND RECORD.
Medical Corps of the Navy Did
Great Work.
burs"on Gensrnl Van Roypen ID His An
nusl Report Tells of tho Ehiciency
ofthat Branch OF the Service
and of the Early PrspArH-
tlOns Made for War.

tlOns Made for War.
Washington, Oct. 10.-Probably no
better illustration oan be found of
the foresight exhibited oy the navy
in preparing for the war than is af
torded by the history of the medical
corp during the struggle. This is set
out in the annual report of Surgeon
Gen. Van. Reypen, which is the first
of the navy bureau reports submitted
for publication.
Mr.. Van Reypen begins with a mod
est tribute to the good judgment and
foresight of his predecessor Gen.
Tryon, who in putting in shape
the several naval hospitals was of in
calculable service to the bureau, en-
abling it to properly care for the sick
or wounded of the navy during the
war.
When the Maine was blown up Van
Reypen was in charge of the bureau
and began preparations for any con-
tingency. The hospitals were fully
equipped; plans were prepared for
pavilion wards and the naval labora-
tory prepared to furnish medical and
surgical supplies in any quantity.
No additional expense was incurred
until war seemed imminent; then
every vessel likely to be engaged was
given n full outfit of medical supplies
for war. In anticipation of a large
increase of the navy, proper outfits
were made ready and boxed for a
large number of ships ready for call.
There has not been an instance dur
ing the war;" says the surgeon gem
eral. ''of any vessel having had to wait
for her medical stores"
1t was known that the medical
corps was inadequate in number for
war, yet there was no law authorizing
the employment of volunteer medical
officers. But medical boards were
sent out in anticipation to the prin-
cipal cities to examine applicants for
appointment, and as a consequence
when war broke out the medical de-
partment had at hand from which to
make selections of volunteer surgeons
long list of well educated men and
81 of these were appointed out of
1000 applications. Surgeon Van Rey-
pen says: They have rendered eff
cient service and have been a credit
to the navy. Some have had unusual
and trying experiences, but they ac-
commodated themselves to their en-
vironments and justified their ap-
paintments."
Only one medical officer was killed
during the war, Assistant Surgeon
John Blair Gibbs, who fell at Guam
tanamo, serving with the marine bat
talon.
The medical department had long
desired to establish a hospital service
at sea on a specially selected vessel,
and the approach of war gave it an
opportunity to demonstrate the wis
dom of its propositions and the eff
cheney of its methods. The steamer
Creole was purchased and was con-
verted into an ambulance ship within
16 days, fitted with every application
of modern surgery, disinfecting ap-
paratus. cold storage, laundry and ele-
vator. She was pioneer in her work,
indicating n step in advance that it
we'll became the United States to
take.
The report gives a short history of
the valuable services rendered by the
Solace in caring for the sick and
wounded. On every trip she went
loaded with medical stores and sup
plies and also with delicacies for the
sick and wounded by generous indi-
viduals and societies from every part
of the United States. Says the surgeon
general: "In this war woman has
done her perfect work and the med
zeal department of the navy is pro-
foundly grateful for the money CON
tributed and supplies furnished for
the aid of the sick and wounded
of the navy"
In conclusion the surgeon general
says: "I cannot close this portion of
the bureaus report without bearing
testimony to the efficiency, skill and
devotion to duty of the personnel of
the medical department. Not a word
but of praise has the bureau heard
of any of them-regulars or volun-
teers. When war was imminent they
wed one with another in their efforts
to get on fighting ships. Some have
had greater opportunities than others,
but all have done we'll the work as
signed them.
The medical officers of the Solace
have the honor of inaugurating the
first complete system of antiseptic
surgery at sea. They have adapted
means to ends, have improvised ap-
paratus, have been fertile in exped-
tents and have the satisfaction of hav-
ing demonstrated that with skill and
intelligence the percentage of mortal
ilty among the patients on well
equipped ambulance ship will be no
greater than in the hospitals on
shore"
Murder In u Camp.
Lexington, Ky, Oct. 1O.-There was
a serious fight at Camp Hamilton yes
terday, resulting in one death and
two men being seriously wounded.