The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-12
PRIZE ESSAY READ
By Major Pitcher Before a
Distinguished Assembly.
TIE PRIZE AWARDED TO EMO
SAUNDERS, WHOSE CoMPRe.
HENsIVE ESSAY WAS WELL RE-
CElVEO BY THE CONVENTION
ABSTRACT OF THE PRIZE ESSAY.

Buffalo, Sept. 1.-THE convention
o. the Association of Military Sur.
gtcnS of the United States gathered
Distinguished medical men.
The reports of the secretary and
treasurer were read at the morning
SESSION. The closing business of the
morning was the reading of Emo Saun-
Gers' prize essay by Major Pitcher
4ho was announced as the winner OF
the prize.
Tie following is an abstract of the
Saunders prize essay:
Medical Training.
The subject of the training of the
medical officer of the state forces to
beg qualify him for local service and
70. mobilization with national troops
!, topic, the importance of which
IN naaion like the UnDited States Of
America. cannot be over estimated
Al the opening Of the Spanish Ameri-
can war there were factors involving
both the regular service and the vol
uufeer forces which rendered con-
sol!Ca,ion and mobilization impossi-
BE without material changes in both
That thew ultimately came together
After a not inconsiderable account OF
restriction by which the Irregular
ties were rubbed off and certain ac-
count of doyetailing was allowable is
due 10 the high character OF the one
comprising the personnel rather than
to the conditions existing in either
branch. The lesson to be derived from
this experience Is that in order to adj
n,it a prompt assimilation the militia
rust be trained along Ines uniforms,
| ed with those Of the national service,
Military medicine and surgery is
a specially. To qualify in the special
| i'y of military medicine and surg
lery, the newly appointed medical Off
ger must become familiar-in addi-
on TO the features of ordinary civil
ian pracj!ce-with, special profession
a Notwithstanding admin
suat'on and the evolution and main
finance of a medico-military esprit de
C0iTS.
The medical work naturally falls
into two closes. therapeutic and pro-
p1ylact'c. A military dispensary
must necessarily be mobile and conse-
GrCntiy exclude elaborate preparations
ard c0nfine itself to one of several
setn,S. each Of which may accomplish
The same purpose.
A Difficult Duty.
Even more important than thera-
peusis is prophylaxis, a feature, OF
col xxr1,i oh n. l,,4
yosue in civil life, but which Is of vi
la importance in army service. Here
les perhaps the most difficult duty of
ne National Guard surgeon. Accus-
toned in the work Of civil life to wait
Tor an invitation before extending the
healing hand; wont 20 be bound down
ol the ethical requirement of not seek.
ing or soliciting practice. it goes vast
7! against the grain Of the civilian
practitioner, recently or temporarily
injected into military life, TO publicly
loSt his sanitary opinions unasked
OF undesired upon his comrades or SUI
FeriorS. But the conditions of military
service where large aggregations or
men are accumulated with reciprocal
&C. on upon one another, are traught
VIVA Possibilities OF disease. A sim
s'o Oh, Of neglect will open the door
,oi thousand misfortunes. 1t well
'eaooyes the medical man TO be con-
sandy on guard, and to continually
s,on upon one another. are fraught
shch he sees and possibly alone ap-
!IecaleS. The most important study
s''h OF the physician TO whom the
e0"es of military service may come
military hygiene and sanitation.
ne military portion of the work of
we medical officer Of the State forces
more of novelty to the newly COM
IulSSoned surgeon than the profess
soma work of the specialist. He
soaId remember that he is now a mil
,"l man and should not fail 10 equal
himself TO properly fill the new po-
sIoh He must learn 10 command
81 not only those of his hospital
'pS, but the sick. The title of Doc
Doctor must be absolutely re-
~, y. cd and he and his men must learn
S 40 me military salute and proper
~. cnce TO rank is an essential feat
w ol military service.
a., 'nuSl3sm is the mother OF eff
so ,"gy. The men who has the great
W. interest in his work is the man
,,' 70" accomplishes the most for his
.@s,'' No method OF increasing ones
as''hcy and enthusiasm is greater
w mat OF contract and attrition
sr.i, men who are interested along
ls,5a"' mes. Whatever the state re-
S!n ans may be along these lines, nc
IVA, oihcer should fail to avail
T. 49, OF the incalculable advantage
Ass ge derived from membership in the
n. 0TaI'on of Military Surgeons OF
res United States. The opportuni,
for1n, developing esprit de corps al.
NNU oy Its meetings are !nestimable