Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-28
NEW NAMES URGED
Designations of Medical OFF,
GERS Of the Navy.
TWO HOSPITAL SHIPS
ADMIRAL RIXEY RECOMMENDS
THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
Work of the Medical School-Enlarge-
ment of the Building Will Be
Necessary.

Surgeon General RiXey, chief of the bu-
reau of medicine and surgery. Navy De
partment. in his annual report says that
the provision made by the last Congress for
a generous increase in the corps gives as
surance that the existing pressure from
overwork will soon be relieved, and that
the demands made upon the corps will in
short time resume normal proportions. The
report embraces a statement of the cond.-
ton Of the naval hospital funds, reasons for
increased estimates, and various recon-
mendatiOns for the increased efficiency of
the medical corps, together with a number
of special reports on sanitary, medical and
surgical subjects.
The Importance of a uniform increase in
all general appropriations for the mainte-
nance of the naval establishment In keeping
with the growth of the navy, the surgeon
general says. Is apparent. He says that
any enlargement of the personnel must
necessarily increase the number to be cared
for by the medical department, both On
board ship and in hospitals. Estimate s are
submitted for the construction. extension
and renewal of hospital buildings at Nor
folk. League Island. Pensacola, Newport,
Mare Island and Canacao, p. /. Most of
the naval hospitals were built many years
ago, and. according to the surgeon general,
now require an Overhauling and renovation.
The bureau renews its recommendation
for an Increase of ten in the grade of medi-
cal inspector and that the different grades
OF the medical corps be renamed as follows:
In place of surgeon general. surgeon admit
raj; medical director to become surgeon
captain: medical inspector, surgeon COM
mander: surgeon, surgeon lieutenant COM
mander: passed assistant surgeon surgeon
lieutenant. ana assistant surgeon, surgeon
lieutenant Ounior grade).
Two Hospital Ships.
Surgeon General Rixey says that the his
fT,,H o. .-r1,,
nishes many instances in which the need of
hospital ships has been demonstrated This
need has been particularly brought to the
front. he says. by the departments policy
of having extensive drill operations on the
various stations. Though this country"
says the surgeon general. has taken the
lead heretofore in the consideration of the
SUBJECT OF hospital ships and was the first
to provide them for active operations it has
fallen behind other nations in that respect
since the war with Spain. The bureau has
prepared plans for a model hospital ship of
moderate size and speed with capacity of
:'1 patients. These plans are evolved from
the teachings of the work of the Solace
and other hospital ships extemporized for
the war with Spain. Such ship, it Is be-
HeVed. Will meet the requirements of a
modern naval service and be as efficiently
equipped as any shore hospital The bureau
earnestly recommends that the construction
OF two of these vessels be provided for by
~OiiSi lHeSe pans nave been laid down
by the bureau of construction and repair,
and each hospital ship is estimate ted to cost
81 10000"
= 1t is recommended that Congress be asked
to provide for an increase of % in the grade
OF pharmacists. and that they be given the
benefits of other. warrant grades Con-
gressional action is again requested for
authority to appoint under contract regular
~ graduated dentists for assignment to
duty at the large naval stations at home
and at those beyond the continental limits
of the United States. The bureau recon-
mends that Congress be again asked to
consider the benefits to be derived by the
sick of the navy through the passage of a
law providing for corps of trained women
nurses. to consist of one Superintendent
nurse 30 chief nurses and nurses, and as
many reserve nurses as may be needed
The Receiving Ships.
Attention is again invited to the unhy-
gienic character and inadequate capacity
of the receiving ships of the navy The
overcrowding of these ships resulted in an
outbreak of diphtheria and measles on the
Franklin and Richmond, of meningitis,
mumps and measles the Minneapolis
and scarlet fever, mumpS and measles on
the Columbia. There were also a large
number of cases of pneumonia and an cpl
demtc of dlphtheria at the training station
at Newport, while at the same time the
station was more or less infected with
humps measles. scarlet fever and chicken
pox. These latter diseases also prevailed
at the training station at San Francisco
1t became necessary to suspend recruiting
and to temporarily abandon the uuarters
at Norfolk. Philadelphia Newport. San
Francisco and New York. The bureau
recommends the construction of barracks
to meet the rapidly growing demands of
the naval service.
Care of tuberculosis Patients.
The surgeon general says that the most
enlightened governments of the world and
the medical profession in all countries, in
working out the problem of the control of
the greatest scOurge to mankind in exist
ence-the disease MISUNDERSTANDING reach
ed the decision that the sanatorium
method of treatment and segregation Of
fers the best solution. By this plan the
Surest promise of benefit is afforded to
those afflicted, and the communities to
which they belong are safeguarded against
contamination.
The bureau is of the opinion that the
needs of the navy warrant the establish
ment of specially adapted sanatoria for the
care of its consumptive sick. at which the
modern methods of trea tment by outdoor
life and regulated diet may be applied
The bureau is of the opinion that these
sanatoria can be most practically and eff
GENTLY established by the erection of spe-
cially constructed isolation pavilions as an
adjunct OF some Of the most favorably-
situated naval hospitals, and will recon-
mend that such provision be made for the
care of tuberculous patients of the navy in
connection with the remodeling Of the hos
pitfalls at Norfolk and Pensacola.
Naval Medical School.
The report of the president of the faculty
of the Naval Medical School, organized in
Washington in the spring of 1902 for the
instruction and training Of newly appoint
ed medical officers in professional branches
peculiar to naval requirements and in the
methods of naval work as applied to their
profession and in general, shows a most
gratifying result. 1.-The need Of a prelimi-
nary course of instruction." says the sur
geon general. "for the novitiate of the med
ical corps before taking up active duty was
fully demonstrated in the class work and
already, in the few months since gradua-
ton that the members of the class have
been actively employed. the value of this
school training has been practically
brought to the front.
1.-The wisdom of the establishment of the
school in Washington has also been salts
factorily demonstrated. The building of the
MUSEUM of Hygiene has. with some slight
remodeling. proved peculiarly suited for
school purposes. The laboratories are well
situated and are modelled and equipped to
equal any modern establishment of their