Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15
Annual Report Of Surgeon
General Rixey.
THE CORPS EFFICIENCY
LOCAL BARRACKS FOB MARINES
DECLARED INADEQUATE.
Proposed Improvement Of the Naval
Medical School-Work on the
New Naval Hospital.

The annual report of Surgeon General
Rixey, chief of the naval bureau OF meoi-
cine and surgery, embraces statement Oh
reasons for increase of estimates ana Oh
the condition of the naval hospital fund,
matters relating to the medical corps, the
hospital corps and to the naval hospitals
with recommendations for their improve
ment, recommendations as to hospitai
ships report on infections on training ana
receiving ships and training stations, re-
port on surgical operations, recommended
tons as to barracks for recruits, report on
navy PENSIONS recommendation as to the
utilization of the services of bureau ana
medical corps in an advisory capacity on
all matters of sanitary Importance anect-
ing the naval personnel, recommendations
as to establishment of camp for care OF
tuberculous patients, recommendation as 10
membership on general board and board Oh
inspection and survey, recommendation as
to book of instructions for the medical
corps, recommendations as to dentists ana
women nurses, estimates for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1906, report on the health
of marine brigade Isthmus Of Panama and
the statistical report for the year, together
with reports of special sanitary, medical,
and surgical interest.
Inducements Offered by the Navy.
Referring to the great difficulty of Sc
curing qualified medical men for the navy,
the surgeon general says that the interest
of the entire naval personnel officers and
enlisted, Is too seriously involved In the
success Of the effort now being made to
secure and maintain the highest state or
professional efficiency in the medical corps
for it to be wise to place it at disadvan-
tage in comparison with the medical staff
of the army by Offering inferior induce
ments to civilian medical men who might
be inclined to enter the naval service.
The bureau renews its recommendation
that Congress be asked for legislation
changing the name of the different grades
of the medical corps now existing, as fol-
lows: In place of surgeon general, surgeon
admiral; and in the other grades, medical
director to become surgeon captain; med1-
cal inspector, surgeon commander; surgeon,
surgeon lieutenant commander; passed as
sistant surgeon, surgeon lieutenant, and as
sistant surgeon, surgeon lieutenant 0unior
grade)
Local Marine Barracks.
Reports from medical officers give infor-
nation of degree of overcrowding under
insanitary surroundings at some of the
barracks occupied by the marines. The
growth of the Marine Corps has been rapid,
overtaxed. Some of the older buildings,
notably those at the Washington marine
barracks and at the navy yard Washing
ton, d. c., the surgeon general says, are
inadequate. and were manifestly designed
without regard to the hygienic needs of
structures housing a large body of men.
Concern has been felt at this state of af-
fairs by medical officers charged with their
sanitary supervision. and warnings and rec
concentrations have been expressed, but,
says the report, the danger apprehended
still threatens. Sanitary barracks are as
necessary for the marines as for the en-
listed men of the navy, says the surgeon
general, and the bureau recommends that
the need of renovation and reconstruction
of the insanitary barracks be given due
consideration.
The estimates for the next fiscal year are
larger than usual, mainly due to the nat
ural growth and demands of the service
and the need for remodeling and extending
nearly all of the important naval hospitals,
more particularly those at Chelsea, Mass. !;
Newport, r. l.; Norfolk, Va, and Pensa-
cola, Fla.
Naval Medical School.
The surgeon general says that the Naval
Medical School in this city, at the begin
ming of it's second year, was in a more
thorough condition of preparedness for all
it's work than in the initial session of last
year, and it Is now on a firm footing The
completion of improvements in the museum
building to meet the requirements of larger
classes increased the facilities for instruc-
ton, and supplies adequate accommoda-
lions.
1t is the purpose of the bureau to enlarge
the sphere of usefulness of this school by
extending the privileges of it's laboratories
and course of special instruction to medi-
cal officers of the navy whenever the in
crease of the corps has removed the neces-
sity for continuous active service of the
medical officers and when the public ext
gency permits their being so employed for
brief periods. The surgeon general says
the professional benefit of such course
will be very great, and the naval service at
large will be the gamer thereby.
The New Naval Hospital.
Referring to the old naval hospital in
this city, the surgeon general says:
ITO meet the demands for an increased
number of beds in this hospital, the attic
floor was QUILTED by extending the water
and heating system, making plumbing con-
nections and installing appropriate hos
pital furniture. In consequence of lack of
accommodations 1t has been necessary to
send cases Of infectious disease to a civil
hospital for treatment. With the compile
ton of the new hospital now being erected
on the grounds of the Naval Museum of
Hygiene and Medical School, this old hos
pital will probably be placed out of COM
mission, and, therefore, only minor repairs
to keep the building in good condition have
been authorized. A new range and water
boiler were installed and a new, improved
the old ambulance.
The surgeon general says that the new
naval hospital now under construction on
the old observatory grounds at the foot
of 23d street will be a model establish
ment, and expresses the hope that Congress
will provide means to make other naval
hospitals as good. Under the contract
with the General Supply and Construction
Company of New York the work on the
local hospital will be completed by the
first of June next. The contract price I'M
der existing plans is $11S,O45, and the avail
able appropriation Is $125, 600 I'm conse-
quence" says the surgeon general, "of the
necessity of emitting from the plans and
specifications the northeast pavilion and
all fittings and fixtures for the hospital,
the bureau is compelled to ask that an
additional sum of 10000 be appropriated
to finish and properly equip the building,
and that the money be made Immediately
available The completion of this hospital
will enlarge materially the educative facili-
ties Of the Naval Medical School, supply
a long-needed modern hospital to the naval
station and add a public building worthy
Of its location in the national capital city,"
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