The Washington herald., 1908-02-07

is TO kill their most formidable enemy
bacteria. They are accredited with the dis
coyery of the lOckiaw germ and that Of
/ the bubonic plague. Hundreds Of their
leading physicians have visited Europe
and America and have taken the best
OF each system they have found and COM
bined them into one.
The quarrel that Is now being waged
between the officers Of the line and those
Of the staff over the question as to
wheteher medical officer shall command
a hospital ship started but little while
after the Geneva convention. That con-
vention provides that a relief ship shall
be regarded as neutral It Is intended
that it shall carry no guns and shall not
be used for any military or naval pur-
pose The articles declare that it shall
fly the Red Cross flag and that its men
must wear the Red Cross armlets. II It
is a government vessel that fact must be
proclaimed by a broad longitudinal stripe
OF green from stem to stern and If So
ciety vessel this strip must be red. The
remainder of the ship must always be
white If a hospital ship is suspected OF
violation OF the terms Of the Geneva con-
ventiOn. its rights as a neutral shall
cease until it has cleared itself Of the
suspicion. Fortunately civilized warfare
makes il practically certain that no viO-
lation Of this international agreement will
ever occur.
Perhaps the most interesting hospital
crusade that is row going on in the
United States is the one against tUberCu-
losis. or the white plague" The expert
ments at Saranac Lake are said 70 dem
onstrate that plenty of fresh air and sun
shine, coupled with a diet of raw eggs
and milk are the best things in the treat
ment Of the disease. Chest and throat
protectors are under the ban there eX-
cept when a patient has a severe cold
Plenty Of cover, down to feather beds
and double mattresses are provided to
keep the patients warm, and they are in
structed to eat all the nourishirg food
they can assimilate. One of the frequent
topics Of conversation at the breakfast
table is how this ones ear or that ones
nose was frost-bitten the night before.
Tght-ittng yis0rs. with only holes for
the eyes and mouth are put on by the
patients who sleep out Of doors
No nation contributes more literally 10
its hospitals and charitable institutions
than the United States. AS the years
come and go the spirit OF the Good Sa-
maritan comes more fully over the people,
and contributions flow in more and more,
/ from the pennies OF the poor to the gold
en- stream Of the rich. Whatever the
motive, whether it comes from a spirit
philanthropy. from q spirit Of religious
charity, or from spirit Of gratitude for
/ benefits personally received, men and
women Of all classes are joining more
/ fully every year in the effort 70 relieve
/ the afiiiction Of the poor
| The first record OF a hospital comes
| from Egypt, where. in the eleventh cen
/ tury B. c. there was college of physi-
clans who received public pay and were
ruled by law as 10 the extent and nature
Of their practice. There were physicians
and dispensaries at Athens IN the fifth
and sixth centuries B. c.. and physicians
were elected and paid by the people TO
| serve in their hospitals In the fourth
| century b. C. an edict in India by King
| Asoka commanded the establishment Of
hospitals throughout his kingdom. and
these fiOurished until the seventh century
/ a. D. The first military hospital was
| established in Rome by Hadriau. and
\ the beginning OF :ne insane asylum IS
/ traced 10 the Mohammedans
Tomorrow - American Bowling
/ Congress.