New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
SOLDIERS DISEASE PREY
BULLETS LESS HARMFUL.
Major Seaman Would Cut Drg
Rot from Medical Department.


partment of the United States army is clearly
forth in the latest book of Major Louis Livingston
Seaman, late surgeon United States Volunteer En-
gneers, entitled 1.-THE Real Triumph OF Japan
This triumph he calls THE conquest of the silent
foe. referring to disease. which according to sta
usics Of past wars. is responsible for 50 per cent
OF the mortality, bullets taking the 20 per cent
Inc hope of bringing about reorganization of
our medical department $50 that it may become as
efhcient as that of Japan" is of the reasons
for Major Seaman's book just published by D. APP
peton o. Co. He expresses the hope that the
PRESIDENT the Cabinet. the army. the Congress
ana the people OF the United States will take heed
OF what the yellow man of the Orient has done.
and will realize the positive criminality in ever
again going to unprepared to combat pre-
ventable disease"
The narrative is entertaining account OF the
organization and practical workings OF the medical
department of the army of japan. observed by
the author, who enjoyed all the privileges of mill
taTy attache with that army in the summer of 1904
lie loses no opportunity in contrasting the achieve
ments there with the record OF our system In the
war with Spain. where. he says through its glar-
ing faults the sacrifice of life from preventabIe
causes amounted to fourteen times the number
legitimately killed in action" According to his
figures. the record of Nippons army four men
killed by battle casualties to from disease.
I'm the face Of these figures he says. ARE we
ever again to repeat that CHASTITY tragedy OF the
Spanish American campaign-fourteen dead from
field OF honor? Yet, If we were to become involved
in tomorrow all that would occur again. and
worse. To prevent it's recurrence there must be
radical reorganization OF the medical corps. includ-
ing the creation by law of medical inspectors gen
eral and an adequate reserve corps. made equal to
the Japanese standard by giving II an independent
transport service and by making its officers Of
equal rank with the highest in the fighting arm;
with executive power In medical and sanitary mat
tiers, and advisory power over the commissariat."
THIS DAMNABLE SYSTEM"
Major seaman's book is timely, as there is now
before Congress a bill Ito increase the efficiency of
the medical Department OF the United States
Army which the author believes is entirely in
adequate to accomplish any far-reaching results.
Authority for the medical department. which, Of
course. can come only from rank is what he be-
neves is vitality lacking in the present system He
terms it this damnable system Of submission; a
system IN which there is incentive for Individual
development. reward for original work, but
where the tendency is to create bookkeepers and
time servers. whose value medical experts in
In inverse ratio TO the time they remain in
the service" Continuing, he says:
1t is my belief that until the line and staff off,
Of the American army is taught the necessity
and authority enforce it our medical department
must remain . Illuminating failure. , us fonIInu-
evidence Of national imbecility.
The following dedication gives an excellent idea
of the spirit of the book:
To the medical and sanitary officers of the jap
anese army. who have proved that the normal con-
die in VI War s hoad a on the ng line and
by the wayside from disease; 20 the heroic dead OF
the honor and integrity OF their beloved country;
in war have been needlessly sacrificed through pre-
ventable disease, ignorance and incompetency, and
forms can come that viii prevent. the repetition of
such sacrifice, these lines are dedicated.
In the face of the high mortality in the Spanish
war Major Seaman's assertion that the medical
department has IS per cent less effective force
than in 1898. while the wretched system under
which It operates remains unchanged" is startling
The system is founded on false premises. he says
its efforts directed toward the cure OF dis
ease Instead of It's prevention. To quote again:
Every death from preventable disease Is an in
suit to the intelligence of the age When 1t occurs
in army where the units have TO submit 70
first responsibility OF the government in times of
peace should be the proper care OF US
liberty prescribes his exercises, equipment, dress
9e6 a a0 10 law tn down his Ire in Its defence and
honor. It should therefore give him the best san
science OF the age devise, be 1t japanese or
And yet. should occasion arise with US for the
ga herring of another army of 25eO0 men next
what If @ 6 a u P Pbey maui maui
seating details. would not be repeated?
MEDICAL OFFICERS LACK RANK
Referring to the Medical Department bill which
failed at the last session of Congress- and is the
same as the one introduced this year. Major Sea-
has this TO say:
The bill was hopelessly defective in essential
spectors or for an Independent transport system;
over the commissary department, and II failed to
advocate an increase in the rank Of the Surgeon
department of which he is the head. He should be
directly responsible only TO the Secretary Of War
President
should have conferred upon him by law the au-
thorty to take action in matters of sanitation.
desg end 9GSP 6 an health az WS bi 9g
reforms enacted we would have no more suc5 hui
initiating spectacles as were witnessed In the span
ish War, or more recently at Panama
Major Seaman refers to the fact that every de-
partment of army is practically autonomous
except the medical department. and adds
The msdis sss oSe 6 an a bs
can submit to the commanding officer. who may
only that he states his reasons for his isapproVai
before Forwarding it TO a higher authority who. in
hi the recommendation "''''H mas ossn maze 10
Major Seaman. in a chapter on Prepare tons for
the Care OF the Sick" describes the organization
OF the Japanese medical corps. the head of which
is lieutenant general, who is a member Of the
General Stan. With each army in the field Is a
surgeon general. with tho rank Of a major general
AS TO the authority of medical officers he says:
The youngest medical lieutenant would not hest
tate TO report the general of the fighting arm 70
his superior. with the know ledge that his com
plant would rench the hand of medical officer
high In rank the general commanding forces.
and II he were right he would sustained. OF
course no fighting officer among the japanese
would for q moment question the right OF a
brother medical officer to exercise his judg
within the lines of his technical profes
sion. The medical expert is in that army for the
specific purpose of furnishing expert opinions
hygiene sanitation and medical matters. and his
word is obeyed without question
OFFICERS FEAR THE SYSTEM"
Along the same line the author says concerning