The Washington times., 1901-10-16
HEALTH OF ABLE SEAMBN.
The Surgeon Generals Report on
Sickness in the Navy.
improvements at Local Barracks
Urged to Prevent Recurrent At
tacks of MaIaria-The Hospital
Service Here and in Distant Islands

tacks of MnIaria-The Hospital
Service Here and in Distant Islands :
The annual report of the Surgeon Ger
eral of the Navy, w X Van Reypen,
was made public late yesterday afternoon.
The report is accompanied by a statistical
report showing the health of the navy
for the year 1900. and q set of annual esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1893. 1t embraces a statement OF the con-
dition of the naval hospital fund, the
naval medical establishment, and other
matters of interest pertaining to the duties
of the Bureau Of Medicine and Surgery
Surgeon General Van Reypen says:
"A large proportion OF the naval force
still remains employed about the Philip
pines. This force has been notably free
from epidemic diseases, and, with the ex-
ception of Cavfre fever. the diseases with
which patients have been admitted TO the
Cavite hospital have been those that
would have occurred in any Southern
climate
In view of the fact that the increase
Of work at the Cavite navy yard has
recessitated the use of buildings adjacent
10 the hospital for construction and en-
gineering purposes, and the noise occa-
stoned by the work in the buildings
has been materially prejudiciaI to the
welfare of the sick in the hospital. the
bureau proposes to transfer the hospital
TO another location. The present location
has also proved sn unhealthful one, as
many OF the patients admitted with other
diseases have been affected by a low
grade OF fever which appears to be local
in it's origin.
THE cornuandant of the naval force
on the staten has forwarded a report
earnestly recommending the transfer of
the hospital to Canacao and utilizing and
improving the buildings partly erected
there by the Spanish forces for use as a
naval hospital. 4 request for an appro-
priation Of S560l9 will be submitted for
the accomplishment of this transfer and
improvement.
The addition to the naval hospital at
Yokohama is nearly completed, and il will
probably be ready for occupancy by No
vember l. The hospital viii then be ready
to receive and care for all the patients it
viii probably be required to accommo-
date.
"The reports from Guam indicate that
the inhabitants Of the island are proceed
ing with the establishment Of civil hos
pltal. showing a desire to conform them
selves to the customs of other communi-
ties. Typhoid fever on the island has al
most disappeared. in consequence Of an
Improvement in the weter supply. A dis
pensary has been opeEed at Pago Pago,
whore natives obtain such medicines and |
treatment as they require The sick quar-
ters at San Juan, Porto Rico. have had |
very few occupants during the past year. |
Very few cases Of disease have occurred 1
among the naval force remaining in Ha- |
vana.
The improvements made at the naval |
hospital, Chelsea, Mass, have been prac- !
tically completed. and that hospital is |
now modern in its equipment The build |
ing Of the addition to the naval hospital |
at Newport. r. l., is progressing well. |
and it VIII probably be ready for occu-
paucy by the end Of the present year
The bureau recently found itself com !
PEELED to bring TO the attention of the
Department the unsanitary condition OF |
the receiving ship Vermont at New York
aud to recommend that its use as a re-
ceiving ship be Immediately discontinued |
j. Will not be leng before the other
wooden receiving ships WIN be in the
same condition as the Vermont. and the
traditions OF the navy for being fore
handed win not be maintained IL early !
steps are not taken either to prepars /
steel ships for receiving ships or sin |
D-tlFr. 10 bulid barracks on shore Chat |
VIII afford better accommodations for re-
cfuits than would be possible on ship.
The present receiving ships are merely
floating houses, having neither masts nor
sells for exercise, and gun platform on
shore would be no more rigid than one
on a vessel whose bottom rests in mud.
The Hospital Corps maintains its
standard Of efficiency, and reports are con-
stantly being received from medical Of
iicers indicating the marked Improvement
in nursing service since the establish
ment Of the corps.
The passage by the last Congress OF
the act giving assistant SURGEONS in the
navy the same rank as assistant sur
geons in the army has proved a great
boon TO the corps. A very desirable class
Of young medical men are now seeking
admission. and the number of vacancies
has been reduced from seventeen at last