The Washington herald., 1906-11-03

IN his annual report submitted 70 Secre-
tary Of the Navy Bonaparte yesterday.
Surgeon General p n. Rixey. Of the navy.
calls attention to the fact that tuberculo-
sis is Increasing in the navy and Marine
Corps to an extent which is somewhat
alarming.
tie shows that If gunshot wounds.
drowning, burns, and local injuries are
eliminated, tuberculosis, as cause Of
death in these branches Of the military
services would stand second in 1900, fourth
in 1901, and first for the past three years
In 1885 the ratio Of cases per Leo was 80;
in 1908 it was 81.
Attention is also called to the fact that
malaria prevails 10 a large extent among
the marines sent 10 the Isthmian Canal
Zone. but there were no fatalities.
BY reason Of insufficient appropriation
the Naval Medical School Hospital in the
District. 1t is stated. could not be COM
pleted. An appropriation is asked for the
erection OF an addition. symmetrical with
the northeast pavilion, solaTium. and con-
Meeting corridor The original est Of the
hospital was 100000. but this amount was
reduced to S125.o0o, preventing the compile
tion Of the hospital
Wants Woman Nurses.
The bill recommending the establish
raent Of a corps Of trained nurses not
having passed last session Of Congress,
though approved by the bureau, is again
urged for passage. The bureau is very
desiroHs to obtain for duty at naval hos
pitals and on hospital and ambulance
ships 8 corps OF trained woman nurses.
The special aptitude Of women for the
care Of sick In times Of peace and war is
dwelled upon at considerable length, and
The report says that the necessity for
their employment in the army has been
satisfactorily established by the expe-
Tience OF the Medical Department Of the
army with the army nurse corps
The hope is expressed that steps may
speedily be taken TO provide for the
navy what has long been granted to the
aruly-a corps OF dental surgeons II is
set forth that IN all military organizations
the great Importance Of the condition Of
the teeth for the proper mastication OF
food and the prevention Of digestive and
intestinal diseases has been so thoroughly
demonstrated by experience that defective
teeth alone are a sufficient cause for the
rejection Of applicants for enlistment
As regards infectious diseases at the
naval training stations. the report states.
after giving statistics OF the various dis
eases at the stations, that epidemics of
infectious disease are prone 70 prevail
wherever recruits are brought together
IN numbers without ample provision for
preliminary detention and observation
subsequent quarantine. and proper hous-
ms to prevent the bad effects Of over
crowding. Attention is called TO the de-
fectlye condition Of the stations.
Because naval medical officers have not
been available tor duty at the numerous
Offices which have been established 10
obtain recruits for the Marine Corps
~ ys'oal evan'i- ations for this branch If
the service have been largely conducted
by civilian physicians employed by the
brigadier general commandant for the
purpose Owing TO these circumstances.
an Undue number Of recruits with phys
ical defects have been accepted, and when
tried under service conditions have be-
come the subjects Of medical survey.
bASNuseEh AuDGEEWAoeEa.
Discussing the subject OF tuberculosis.
the report recommends that cnly those
should be enlisted whose health and con-
stitution are such as 20 furnish the proper
resistance for service in any climate. Is
pecial attention should be given to the di-
mensions Of the chest and the coafcrrua.
ton OF the thoraX. which would make one
suspect disposition to affections OF the
organs Of respiration. a syNtem Of re-
cTuiting which selects only tHe most ro-
bust men is the first and not the least i'm
por-ant step in the struggle against tuber-
cuiosis in the navy.
New Wards Needed,
Speaking OF the new naval bospitaI al
Annapolis, the report says that the large
<crease in the number Of midshipmep
end Of officers and men on duty at the sta
tion makes the provision Of isolation
wards especially urgent, and recommends
such wards TO be provided without deiav
The bureau expresses the hope that the
hospital VIII be ready for the reception
OF patients by the end OF the calendar
year
In conclusion, the report compliments the /
clerical force OF the bureau on their faith /
fulness and attention 10 duty The various /
medical supply depots have been con-
Quoted efficiently, and a marked improve /
ment in the pers JnneI Of the hospital /
corps has resulted from the training in (
the Hospital Corps Training School at
Norfolk. Va The Medical Department /
also receives its share OF praise
The hope is expressed TO secure new
dispensar.es at certain yards. new supply |
depCts at selected naval stations. fac,H- /
ties for the necessary detention and seq
Tegaticn OF recruits al naval training sta |
tions, baTrack buildings. at receiving sta |
tons fer recruits, q nurse corps of trained /
women nurses, and a corps Of dental /
surgeons fer the navy: 10 rennvate and
remodel existing hospitals, and TO build /
new ones at certain localities indicated in /
the report. It is also hoped that the
recommendation OF the bureau 10 the
for increasing the efficiency I
OF the hospital corps and for relieving /
the present stagnatiOn in promotion in 4
the medical corps may meet with favor /
able action by Congress.
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Portrait Of Gov. LOvvndes.
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