The San Francisco call., 1898-10-10
PRAISES NAVAL
 MEDICAL CORPS Efficiency and Heroism
 Com bined. SURGEON GENERALS REPORT MODEL SERVICE AT ALL STAGES
 OF THE WAR. Woman's Grand Work Gratefully Ac- wledged-Special Refer
 ence to Miss Long and
 Her Associates.
MODEL SERVICE AT ALL STAGES
 OF THE WAR.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

foresight exhibited by the navy in pre- pairing for the war than Is afforded by
 the history of the medical corps during
 the struggle This Is set out in the an-
 nual report of Surgeon General w. K.
 Van Reypen, which is the first of the
 navy bureau reports submitted for
 publication
 Surgeon-Genera1 Van Reypen begins
 with modest tribute to the good judg-
 ment and foresight of his predecessor,
 General Tryon, who in putting in order
 and equipplng the several naval hos pitals, was of incalculable service to the bureau, enabling it to properly care for the sick or wounded of the navy dur ing the war. When the Maine was blown up Surgeon General Van Reypen was in charge of the bureau and began preparations immediately for any con- tingency. The hospitals were fully equipped, plans were prepared for pa vilion wards, and the naval laboratory prepared to furnish medical and sur gical supplies in any quantity. No ad- ditional expense was incurred until war seemed inn .nent; then every vessel likely to be engaged was given a full outfit of medical supplies for war. In anticipation of large increase of the navy, proper outfits were made ready and boxed for large number of ships, ready for call.
 There has not been an instance dur ing the war; says the general, "of any vessel having had to wait for her medical stores"
 It was known that the medical corps was inadequate in number for war. yet there was no law authorizing the em- ployment of volunteer medical officers. But medical boards were sent out in anticipation to the principal cities to examine applicants for appointment, and as a consequence when the war broke out the medical department had at hand from which to make selections of volunteer surgeons, long list of well educated men, and thirty y-seven of these were appointed out of 2000 applicants.
 Surgeon-General Van Reypen says: They have rendered efficient service and have been credit to the navy. | Some have had unusual and trying ex- pertences, but they have accommodated themselves to their environments and have Justified their appointments"
 Only one medical officer was killed ! during the war, Assistant Surgeon John | Blair Gibbs, who fell at Guantanamo serving with the Marine Battalion.
 The Medical Department had long de- i sired to establish a hospital service at ] sea on a specially selected vessel, and 1 the approach of war gave 1t an oppor- | tunity to demonstrate the wisdom of l its propositions and the efficiency of it's | methods. The steamer Creole was pur- ! chased. and with the valuable assis- 1 tance of Naval Constructor Woodward l was converted into an ambulance ship ! within sixteen days, having every ap- pliance of modern surgery. disinfecting apparatus, cold storage, laundry and elevators. She was a pioneer in her work indicating step in advance that l it well became the United States to take
 The report gives a succinct history of the valuable services rendered by the Creole in caring for the sick and wounded
 The surgeon general continues 'In ! this war woman has done her perfect i work and the medical department of the navy Is profoundly grateful for the | money contributed and supplies fur nished for the aid of the sick and | of the navy. Patriotic women | have ably supplemented the efforts of | the Government, and their assistance | has been thoroughly appreciated"
 In this connection the report calls at | tention to the fact that as soon as war was declared the daughter of Secretary | Long and three of her associates at the | Johns Hopkins Medical School volun-
 
 were assigned to duty in the hospital.
 In conclusion the Surgeon General | says: T cannot close this portion of | the bureaus report without bearing tes- timony to the efficiency skill and de- votion 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 volunteers. When | war was imminent they vied with one another in their efforts to get on fight | ing ships. Some have had greater op- | than others, but all have done well the work assigned them. Sur geon Edgar saw his associate, Assist i ant Surgeon Gibbs, shot by his side in the Spanish attack and he continued ! his work alone, doing it thoroughly and ! we'll, and 1t was known he would. The i medical officers of the vessels in the fight at Manila and in the battle of the 3d of July shared the dangers of their and should participate in the praise accorded them.
 "The medical officers of the Solace nave the honor of inaugurating the first complete system of antiseptic surgery at sea. They have adapted means to ends, have improvised apparatus, have been fertile in expedients and have he satisfaction of having demonstrat- ad that with skill and intelligence the of mortality among patients on well-equipped ambulance ship will De no greater than in the hospitals on shore.
 Medical Inspector Persons found himself suddenly confronted with 226 Spanish sick or wounded prisoners in l partly established hospital. He was equal to the emergency, and he and his associates were complimented by Ad- niral Cervera when he visited the amp.
 "The medical officers of the other hos oitals have had sudden large access ;ions of patients. They were always 'eady and always cared for them we'll" TASK OF RAISING THE