The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-10
FUTURE NAVAL EPISODE
Whas May TSe Expected When Men
OF War are Commanded by Ply
SicianS-
Richmond News-Leader.)

ident's decision that naval hospital
ships shall be under command OF
physicians. We do not recall anything
quite like this since the days OF II. NJ
S. Pinafore. We can imagine
story TO be told, say. three years hence
reading thus:
The United States hospital ship
Pharmacoepia was caught in ty-
phoon in the China sea and lay fifteen
miles of a coral reef, broadside on
to an inshore wind at seventy miles
an hour and fearful sea- She was
heeled far over, one propeller whlrI-
ing through the air helplessly. Dr.
Pills. captain in command, had his
staff gathered about him in the ward
room and they were in active con-
sultation. Two factions had develop
cd, the majority led by Captain Pills
the minority following DR.. Blades,
lieutenant-commande The navigat-
ing officer, a regular navy man, was
in irons in one corner as an irregu-
lar practitioner.
Seadog. able seaman, opened the
door, his repeated knocks having
brought no response, saluted and stood
gravely at attention.
me cuty is, sir, to report, sir" he
said to Captain Pills. that she is
driftin' t'lee'rd three knot, straining
badly. sir, with three foot Of water in
her hold. sir, and gainin' fast, sir"
How often have I told you, Doctor
Seadog" said Captain Pills severely,
never to speak Of this patients hold:
Student as you are. you should know
enough to recollect that it is her ab-
dominal cavity. Retire!"
Seadog saluted, turned on his right
heel as a pivot and withdrew. The
navigating officer in the corner bah
Lied feebly in inarticulate rage and
strained at his handouts.
II confess. DOCTOR said Captain
Pills, resuming his argument with DIR.
Rlades, that our sterilization of the
water Ly my new process for making
sea water inoccous has not yet h"f
the desired effect. I know, howe rer,
from your Justly celebrated reputa-
tfvn AZ a scientist. that yOu reallZo
that science must be patient and that
a theory scientifically correct must in
the End develop With all Difference
r. yon doctor must insist thai the
present requirement of this patient,
in view of the continual and painful
reetlessness, obvious to us all is a
-sedotive treatment"
"Recoenizing the force of your OBJ
SerTations. DOCTOR" answered Dr..
! Bladts and with full Difference to
your high standing In the profession,
I must point out that the patient is fill
ing with water rapidly, as we learn
from the report of that intelligent. If
somewhat crude, student, SeadOg. just
, made Let me suggest, doctor, that
! dropey is indicated plainly and that
she should be tapped instantly. While
the relief might be merely temporary
, it would give us the opportunity 20
consider furVEer symptoms"
! The operation, of course, would be
| trihing one, DOCTORS" he remarked
! aside to those OF his own faction,
| looking lovingly at his instrument
cases, 'but any operation, I contend
! always, is better than no operation at
all"
/ That we understand to be the fun
/ ramental principles of surgery" an
swered his associates in chorus.
If | had a chance" broke in the
navigating officer, savagely, Il believe
| could yet work her nose around into
! the wind and pull her off on one pro-
Deller."
You shall be dismissed from the
service sir as a disgrace to an hon
! orable profession" said Captain Pills
! stern1y H'AIl modern scientific prin
/ ciples demand the utmost freedom OF
! ventilation and full exposure to the
| tonic sea air. In her present posi-
ton this patient is arranged in strict
compliance with those principles
Even you should know, sir, that the
sudden shock of an thrush Of cold
air upon the respiratory and bronchial
! processes through the nasal apparatus
is likely 70 have seriously deleterious
/ effects upon 4 patient IN the condition
| of OUTS"
| This remark, however. developed ar
unexpected breach in DR.. Pills ma
| jority among the consIlitants. There
| was some murmuring and new dis
| cussion arose as to the comparative
merits of sea air taken directly into
the lungs or striking longitudinally
on the exposed body. In the midst oi
this fresn cebate, Seadog again .p-
peared.
| ''Starboard rropel.er's gone sir
he said.
DR.. Pills cleared his throaI and hes
jtated. Paralysis Of the posteria IL
bal nerve on the left-or, is it the
right side" he said. Then he clear
ed his threat again. This was not
exactly indicated byq my diagnosis