Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
ASSISTANT SURGEONS
First Commencement at Naval
Medical School.
IL RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
INTERESTING OCCASION AT MA
TIoNAL MUSEUM.
Addresses by President Marmion Of
Faculty and Assistant Sec
rotary Darling.
IL RECEIVE DIPLOMAS

| The commencement exercises held this
| morning in the assembly hall Of the Ma
| tional Museum marked the close Of the
winter term of the United States Naval
Medical School. The event was particu-
| larly notable in that the class of young
physicians who received diplomas is the
first class graduated from this new govern
ment institution. A large audience, COM
posed Of friends of the graduates, wit
| messed the exercises Admiral Dewey was
an interested auditor, as were number
| of other officers connected with the navy
Medical Director r. A. Marmion, U. 8.
| N, president of the faculty. presided and
delivered an address. Charles H. Darling,
| assistant secretary of the navy, made the
| address to the graduates and presented the
| diplomas. The presiding officer read an
address by Surgeon General P. M. Rixey.
| Excellent music was rendered by Inc
| Marine Band Orchestra, under direction Ut
| Lieut.. Santlemann.
On the Platform.
On the platform, in addition to the speak
ers, sat the Rev. Jerome Daugherty, presi-
dent of Georgetown University. and the
following members of the naval medical
school: Medical Director ]. w. Ross. L.
s. NJ: Medical Inspector J. c. Boyd, U. S.
N; Surgeon A. c. H. Russell, U. 8. N:
| Surgeon E. r. Stitt, U. s. N: Lieut. D. L.
Wilson, U. s. N, and Mr.. E. p. Hanna,
solicitor of the Navy Deartment.
Behind the platform were draped four
large American flags and about the front
of the platform was arranged a splendid
display of palms. ferns, tropical plants and
| flowers. The twelve young men composing
the class occupied seats to the left of the
platform.
Following a selection by the orchestra
the Rev. Jerome Daugherty offered prayer
and President Marmion spoke briefly. He
said the medical profession today is paying
more attention to prevention of disease
than to any other branch of study. AS
result of investigation and research efficient
| methods for the prevention of the spread OF
yellow fever and malaria have been dis
covered and the government Is now able
to cope with these hitherto disastrous dis
eases The time is coming, and not far
distant when the transmission Of yellow
fever will be regarded as crime and the
person who transmits the disease will be
punished.
He sketcbed briefly some of the difficult
ties that the newly commissioned officers
will contend with upon beginning active
service and cautioned them against making
mistakes.
THE young men here in this graduating
class today" he said, "are evidence that
the Naval Medical School is not merely
possibility. but an established reality and
it has come to stay as a valuable auxiliary
to the service
Mr.. Darling Talks.
Mr.. Darling congratulated the young
physicians upon being members Of two of
the foremost professions in the land-the
profession of arms and the profession of
medical science. The first. he said. is pa
triotic in character, the other humanita-
rian. 1t Is distinction to be members Of
the first class graduated from the Naval
Medical School.
fuence on the naval service of the United
States. well as In other walks Of life
de declared. Our navy has begun the
second century Of its existence, and it is
continually improving. The American navy
sta nds today primarily for peace. 1t stands
for peace for the whole world. and when
that peace cannot be maintained with
proper dignity 1t seeks to bring about the
respect that is due to the nation 1t repre-
sents.'
He declared that no officer in the service
Is charged with wider field of duty than
the surgeons of the navy. He mentioned
the various duties that would be required
Of the doctors. and spoke of what was
expected of them with respect to their
conduct He emphatically urged the value
of maintaining high moral character and
of seeking to benefit those with whom they
may come in contact. as well as being am
bilious to advance in their profession
Surgeon General Rixey's Address.
| The address of Surgeon General Rixey
| contained recital of the incidents which
| led to the establishment Of the naval medi-
| cal school, and the purpose Of the insti-
| tuition. He thanked a number of the local
physicians who have lectured before the
students and spoke of the advantages that
| would be opened to the graduates for origi-
nal investigation If sent to the new insular
possessions for service. DR.. Rixey also
| emphasized the value of prevention Of dis
| ease as compared to remedy.
| Among other things, which were consfd-
| cred as Of particular value to the young
men in entering upon their new duties were
| the words of advice and caution contained
| in the surgeon generals address. He urged
| that the physicians should be courteous,
| obliging and respectful at all times; that
| they should not shrink from personal sacri-
| fee in their practice. and that they should
endeavor to set good example in their
| conduct.
At the close Of the program the friends
| of the members Of the class crowded about
| them and extended congratulations.
| The Graduates.
The graduates who received diplomas as
assistant surgeons in the navy are: r. A.
| Bachmann, Pennsylvania; F. M. Munson,
Delaware; E. M. Brown California: H. r.
| Strine, Pennsylvania; r. E. Hoyt, New
| Hampshire; ]. P. Traynor, Maine; M w.
| Baker, Virginia.; J. H. Holloway. Ken
| lucky; ]. L. Nelson. Massachusetts,; r. H.
| Michels Illinois; H. Shaw, Massachusetts,;
B. F. Jenness. Massachusetts,.
]