The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-02
OUR ARMY SURGEONS
LARGE INCOMES THEY sAcRlrIcE TO
SERVE UNCLE SAN.
Eminent Specialists Who Are Now With
the Omitted States Ar,ny--rhe War Offsrs
Opportunities For Valuable Experience
Not to BE Found Anywhere Else.

Opportunities For Valuable Experience
Not to BE Foupd Anywhere Else.
'T made s24,o in my practice last
year" said surgeon not much past 80
few days ago. "and they offer me a
place in the army now which will pay
me just 80, 800" The name Of this man
has not yet appeared in the list of ap-
pointments given out in Washington,
but it is likely to do SO when the second
call volunteers are mustered In.
The successful surgeon Is not likely
to be fiattored by the offer Of any posi-
tion in the United States army which
can be given him, yet thare are dozens
of surgeons among tho recent v1lunteers
who have gone into the service know
ing that it meant the loss of fivo-sixths
of their income during tho time they
remained in the army. Such eminent
specialists as DIR. Nicholas Senn of Chi
cago and DIR. John Guiteras Of Philadel-
phia are now serving their country in
uniform with the rank and modest
emoluments of surgical officers. Many
others of more or less note all over tho
country have sacrificed incomes rwo or
three times as great as they will receive
in the army and have run the risk of
injury to their practices in order to
serve in the present war. In fact, Uncle
Sans surgical service can claim the
highest attainments in several special
lines likely to prove very important in
this war
"The importance Of having the high
est professional skill available in behalf
of the wounded may be judged, |" says
Surgeon General Sternberg, from the
fact that in the civil war for every II
men killed in battle 2 died Of their
wounds or died in hospitals, accord.
ing to tho records. Antiseptic surgery
and skillful operators should make it
possible for US to improve ON that record
in this war"
Another consideration, aside from
patriotism, that may have had an infiu-
ence in bringing some eminent practi-
TONERS into the service is the opportu-
nifty for valuable experience. This may
have been Of weight in the case of DIR.
Sem, who is now in charge of the med
ical department at Camp Thomas. 1t is
precisely in operations for gunshot
wounds, and especially for those wounds
Of the abdomen which were conceded
to be fatal in the war of lS61-5, that
DIR. Sem has made his most interesting
discoveries Little known in the east
outside of his profession, ho is ono Of
the most popular surgeons in Chicago
aud Milwaukee. where he made q repu-
tation before his removal to tho western
metropolis.
1t Improbable that DIR. Sem received
from his private practice not less
than ten times what his pay in tho
service will be. Twenty times might
come nearer to the correct figures This
is certainly no light sacrifice for pro-
fessional man to make. DR.. Sem was
at one time surgeon general OF the Wis
consin national guard, and while in that
position he conceived the idea OF organ
izing the Association of Military Sur
geons Of the United States. The society
was formed In 1891, and DIR. Sem be.
came its president. The association has
been Of valuable service in furnishing
men to tho government in the present
war and is likely to grow far beyond its
original plans.
The chief surgical officer Of the Unit
ed States, Brigadier General Sternbcrg,
is physician Of rare attainmcnts and
an investigator Of originality and dar-
ing in the obsourer germ diseases. DIR.
Sternbergs researches in the bacteriolo-
gy of pneumonia have attracted great
attention in the profession. On account
of the professional standing which be
has given the army service many nm
ambitious young surgeon is glad to
serve under him even II he does have 10
sacrifice nine-tenths of his income for
tho sake Of the country.
Next to the surgeon general comes, in
the medical department., the ASSISTANT
surgeon general. who has tho rank and
pay of colonel in the army. The in
cumbcnt, Colonel Grcenleaf, is now
with General Miles. The next grade is
deputy surgeon general, with the rank
Of lieutenant colonel. There are ten
deputy surgeon generals i'm tho regular
service, and seven have been appointed
i'm the volunteer service with the title
of chief surgeon and tho rauk of lieu
tenant colonel. IL is 20 this grade that
DIR. Sem has been appointed.
Tie next grade Is that Of surgeon,
With the rank of major There are 90 Of
these Ina the regular service. Their pay
Is ", 800 per year. II is this position
which tho Now Yorker quoted at the
beginning Of this article had reference
10 and which many other young sur
geons have accepted in spite Of the loss
Of from two TO ten times that sum in