The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-09-06

not permitted to pass the medical ex-
animation. Statistics show that a
large percentage of the candidates are
dropped at this stage of the examina-
ton. This is a reflection on the sys-
tenn Of medical education which con-
tinues TO prevail in our country. About
the only evidence of proficiency the
national guard surgeon in most of our
states is required to show is his di-
plOma. It makes but little difference
when the diploma was obtained. Evil
dences of a satisfactory preliminary
education are not required. In cOnse-
quence Of such an easy entrance into
the medical service of our state troops,
many of the men who receive commits
sions are ilIiterate. By hard postg grad
uate work they often become good
physicians. but they seldom, if ever,
make up for the early defects Of the
education, which seriously interferes
with a successful military career. Is
it to be wondered al that when such
shortcomings are discovered by their
colleagues and officers of the line, they
do not command the respect their
commissions should entitle them to?
Anyone who enters the medical ser
vice of the army as a life avOcatiOn
will be disappointed unless he does SO
imbued with a proper military spirit.
The military surgeon must be a mill
tary man and an integral part Of the
army if he wants to do justice to his
calling and the department he repre-
sents. I fear it is a lack of the proper
military spirit in some of the medical
officers in the regular army that is
responsible for a we'll recognizably
cleft between them and the officers of
the line and field. If this is true in
the regular army, it is only too obvi-
Gus in the national guard. The rank
Of the medical officers and their stand
ing in military and social circles suf-
fer when they are regarded and treat
ed as an ordinary doctor.
''TO the credit of the medica! officers
Of this and other wars, it must be said
that they showed no fear, either in
facing the enemy or, what is vastly
WOrse-disease. When yellow fever
made its appearance among the troops
around Santiago every man remained
at his post and faced the danger with :
out flinChing. Men from the north who
had never seen the disease accepted the
detail for duty in the fever hospitals
without a word of complaint.
THE first and most important duty
of the military surgeon is to prevent
, disease. This can often be done more
effectively by example than by pre-
cept. The military surgeon must be
known in camp as a gentleman, net
only by officers, but by every man
under his charge, if he expects TO be
respected and to do justice to his high
calling and responsible position.
The first and most important duty
Of the military surgeon during active
warfare is to prevent disease and u1-
! necessary suffering Gy giving early ad-
vice and resOrting to timely precau-
tOns. The location of camps, policing
Of the same, the water supply, food
and clothing are subjects Whuch must
receive his early and earnest atten
ton. In this work he should receive
the hearty co. opera ton of the officers
IL command, and if this is not the case
he has the moral and military authori-
ty to demand it
1T was not the medical department
but the arrogance CT stupidity Cf the
commanding general of the nvldina
army that was eSponsibe for the eX-
tensive outbreak CT yellow fever our
ing the Cuban campaign. This expert
ence is sufficient to teach commanding
generals that it is unsafe in the flu
! tUre to follow such an example, as ar
| imprudence of this kind, giving rise
| to inexcusable slaughter and inde-
| scribable suffering, will meet with uni
/ versal indignation"