Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-15
NAVY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
SURGEON GENERALS ESTIMATE
OF ITS NEEDS.
$2.oOO.oOO Required to Place 1t on
Peace-Time Basis--Con-
struction Work.

According to Surgeon General Rixey
s-"h"o is required to place the medi-
| cal department of the navy on a nroper
peace-time basis. It's present backward
condition. he says, grows out of the ex-
| tfemely conservative policy adopted for
| many years in regard to the medical de-
partnent of the navy. and also to the
great increase In the navy Itself i'm the
Last twenty years. Since 1902 much has
been accomplished. but vast deal re
mains to be done. says he. before the
Medical Corps can feel that even In time
of peace 1t will be enabled to properly
care for the sick of the navy In accord
ance with the high standard demanded
at the present day by advanced medicine.
Work of Construction.
Among the more important works of
construction is mentioned the naval Medi-
cal School Hospital at the foot of 22d
street in this city. which the surgeon
general says will eventually supply the
long-felt need of practical demonst rations
and besides instruction in connection with
the school laboratories, and enable the d-
dacttc courses of instruction in surgery.
tropical medicine, naval hygiene etc. to
be properly illustrated by bedside teach
ing.
Repairs and extensions are being made
to the school from time to time to meet
the demands of the classes of young
medical officers assembling there and
furnish to older officers in the corps a
chance to keep in touch with the progress
of their profession
The old hospital at Washington on
Pennsylvania avenue east has been re-
modelled for a temporary training school
for nurses, and still continues to receive
emergency cases from the navy yard and
the marine barracks. Permanent quar-
ters for the training school for nurses Will
be asked for in connection with the Naval
Medical School the normal place for
the instruction and training Of the corps
The surgeon general says that such con-
centration will enlarge the facilities for
instruction and training, associate officers
and the enlisted body for the more salts
factory conduct of drills, and most effec-
lively serve to meet the dictates of wise
economy in carrying on the work of these
two schools.
The dispensary at the Mills building
has been reduced to a simple station for
emergency cases in the department. but
the medical service proper of resident Off
GERS has been provided for to better ad-
vantage at the Naval Medical School
Hospital. There a corps of specialists is
available to assist the medical officer IN
charge of the dispensary and all the IA
cilitles of the new hospital and school are
convenient for the thorough study and
ticable when the dispensary was loca ted
in the Mills building.
Health Good.
The surgeon general says the health
of those of the Washington navy yard
has been remarkably good and the
cases of disease and injury that are
recorded for the year were OF little
moment. No infectious disease or Sc
,.iy 1t, .,.l
severe injuries among the civil en-
ployes were infrequent. Out Of 1900
men of this force 1918 per cent were
treated at the yard dispensary, % were
sent to hospital, and % were SEM home
in ambulance
This yard. in general, has been kept
exceptionally clean and neat, and the
sanitary condition of all buildings was
satisfactory. with the following cXcep-
tons:
The main foundry is reported as be-
ing extremely and often dangerously
hot in summer. owing to the tact that
the neighboriug buildings cut of the
breezes and prevent a free movement
of the surrounding air. This Is per-
haps only in small measure remediable
by artificial means. but the unnySlenlc
state Of the air in this shop during
winter when the windows are closed
calls for Improvement in and extensive
additions to the ventilating provisions.
The water closets in the marine bar
racks are badly located in the base
ment and the place is insuffciently
ventilated.
The water closets for the civil en-
ployes are Inadequate in number, and
the crowded condition and continual
hurried use of these accommodations
are productive of filth and fncessant
breakdown.
The health of the station at Indian
Head Md, is reported to have been ex-
cellent only few mild cases of mala-
ria of short duration marring an other
wise perfect record. The sanitary con-
dition of the station from every point
of view has been equally satisfactory.
Naval Medical School.
Gratifying results, the surgeon general
saws. have rewarded the work of the
Naval Medical School in this city ever
since its establishment in 1902. The
succeeding years in the history of Its
onerations" says he, have been char
acterized by splendid Improvement In
every feature of equipment and instruc-
ton, and it may now be truthfu.ly said
to be on firm footing as regards Its
value to the individual, the service and
the profession and to have taken its
n}ace among the best postgraduate
schools not only of this country, but or
the world improvements VIII continue
in accordance with thu dictates OF medi-
cal Drogress and no effort Will be spared
by the bureau or officers of the faculty
TO maintain the acknowledged high stand
ard which the Naval Medical School mas
reached"