The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
PRESIDENT TO NAVAL N, DIS,
HANDS OUT DIPLOMAS TO NEW
ASSISTANT SURGEONS

exercises Of the United States Naval Medi-
cal School, held at the Naval Museum OF
Hygiene. Twenty-three assistan, surgeons
we're graduated. The President delivered
the diplomas and made an address. He
said:
Ladies and gentlemen, and especially the
members Of the graduating class;
am glad TO have the chance Of saying
a word Of greeting to you this morning.
You represent two professionalism you
are members Of the great medical body. and
YOU are also officers OF the navy Of the
United States, and. therefore, you have a
double standard Of honor up to which tolive.
1 think that all OF us hymen men and
women, have a peculiar appreciation OF
what a doctor means; Sor do not suppose
there is one Of us who does not feel
that the family doctor stands In a posi-
ton Of close intimacy, in a position OF
Obligation under which one n happy TO
rest 10 an extent that hardly any one else
can stand, and those Of Us who, l THINK
most Of US are fortunate enough 10 have
a family doctor who II beloved ana IN
innate friend, realize that there can DO Few
closer ties Of intimacy and affection IN the
world.
And while, Of course, even the greatest
and best doctors cannot assume that very
intimate relation with more than a GER
tain number OF people, 1t Is TO be said 1
think, that moro than any other man eA-
oept a few CleTgymen, the doctor does
commonly assume that relation TO many
people. While, nevertheless, 1t Il Impossible
tfat that relation shall obtain between
"A doctor and more than Certain number
l.. d l4rrtNH "a
the doctor i thrown at all intimately he
has that relation 10 greater or less eA-
tent
And the effect that the doctor has upon
the body Of the patient is in great numper
Of cases no greater than the effect that he
has upon the patients mind. Zach one OF
you here has resting upon him not only
great responsibility for the care OF the Dooy
Of the officers and enlisted men VINO VIII
be under his supervision, but a care Whloh
ought not to 10 too consciously telt, a care
which will be unconscious hut none the less
strong because of il, for the mans splnt.
as well; for the effect upon him oil your
attitude toward him; and the morale on
the entire ships company, Of the entire
body of men with which you are 70 he |
thrown will be sensibly Sfected by the way |
in which each of you does his duty, |
jus a. the great doctor, the man VINO /
stands high In his profession IN any cry |
counts as one of the most valuable aseets
in that Ciry's civic work 80 N the navy |
or the army the effect Of having thoroughly |
well trained men whh a high and sensi-
tive STANDARD OF professional honor ana |
professional duty Is well nigh lncalculable |
upon the service Itself | want you now |
"a you graduate TO feel that on your |
shoulders rests great weight OF RESPONSE
billy. that your posi- ion n one Of high |
honor and thai 1t Is impossible to hold |
post ion of high honor and nOtho u y tuldeT |
penalty Of mourning tho sevsrest reprooa-
ton If you fail to live up 10 lie requirements
ADVANTAGES NAVY DOCTORS HAVE.
I am not competent TO speak save In the |
most general terms Of your professional |
duties ] do want, however, 10 cal your |
attention to one or two features connected |
In the first place, in connection with TIE |
work YOU do for the service you have certain |
peculiar advantages in doing work mat
viii be felt for the whole profession. foi |
instance. il will come TO your lot TO deal
peculiarly with certain types OF tropical
diseases. You viii have TO deal with them |
rs no ordinary American doctor, no matteI
how great his experience, will have 70 deal
with them, and voc should III yourselves by |
most careful study and preparation, 40
that you shall not only be able 10 grappR
with cases as they come up, but in graphing |
with them to make and record observations
upon them that win be Of permanent value
20 your fellows in civil life,
You can ere do what no civilian doctor can |
possibly do. There probably u not branch /
81 the profession into which, during your /
career, you viii not have 70 60; no type OF |
disease that you will not have 20 treat: Hut /
there are certain disease that you Will have /
20 treat that the ordinary man who stays at |
home Of course does not, and rs Of oonse-
uuence 20 the entire medical profession that |
you should so ft yourself by study, by /
preparation, that you shall not only be able /
TO deal with those caHes, but 20 deal with |
Ia in haf vii n ADVANTAGE
your stay at home brethren.
INCREASE IN SERVICE NEEDED.
There is one other point. Every effort |
should Of course, be made 10 provide you |
with ample means to do your work, Livery |
effort ought TO be made 90 persuade the |
National legislature totake tnat view o. the |
situation; to remember that In case Of war !
IL IL out Of the question TO improvise |
great medical service for the army and 1
navy The needed increase Is more keenly |
felt in the army than IN the navy, because !
4 Is always the army that undergoes the /
But il is felt in both services, II a war |
come for which we have no greater prepa- |
ration than at present we have made, n, as |
Is perfectly certain TO be the case, there |
be fever In the camps; n there be trouble |
among the volunteer forces, II IA foolish |
90 the greatest degree for the public men, |
and especially FOR the public press, 70 com |
plain and shrek over the people who happen |
70 be IN power al that Time
Let them shriek-or rather do not let |
them shrek at all, for shrinking is a sign |
Of hysteria-but let them solemnly think |
over and repent Of the fact that they have |
not made their representatives provide |
adequately in advance for the medical |
system in it's personnel, it material, Its |
organization and physical Instruments ]
necessary 10 make that organization efec- |
tive, which alone, II PREPARED In advance, |
will obviate the trouble which otherwise !
Is certain TO c1Tne II wo have a war.
THE PEOPLE MUST BLAAE THEMSELVES.
Let them remember not 70 blame the 1
people in power when the breakdown comes,
but blame themselves people Of the
United Statcs-beCause they have not had
the forcthought 20 take the steps 10 advance
which will prevent that breakdown occur
ing. Means ought 10 be provided. That
y part Of our duty. II we fail In II, then Il
IS our responsibility, not yours.
But, and this / want 10 impress with all
the strength that in me lies upon every
medical man in either the. .Grmy or the
Navy, remember always that In any time
Of crisis the chances are that you win have
TO work with imperfect implements And
you can form a pretty good test Of your
worth. II you sit down and say you could /
have done good work II only you had had
the right implement b 10 work with you
will show your unftness for your position.