Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-06
Problems Before Association
of Military Surgeons.
METHODS ARE DISCUSSED
Value of Camps of Instruction for
National Guard.
SYSTEMS OF ORGANIZATION
Emphasis Upon Difference Between
the Ordinary Practitioner and
Army Medical officer.

| Organization and administration of the
medical branch Of the military forces OF
the United States was the first problem
discussed at the third session of the AS
ISOLATION of Military Surgeons which was
opened at 8 o'clock this morning in the
New Willard by Surgeon General Rixey'
United States Navy, president.
In the first paper read Lieut.. Col. r. G.
Ebert, Medical Corps, United States
Army. pointed out several methods by
which the value of the medical depart
ment of the military establishment could
be enhanced.
| Capt. Harold W. Jones, also Of the
Army Medical Corps. in a paper giving
his impressions on the value of camps
of instruction for medical officers of
| the National Guard, severely arraigned
the present organization Of the medical
and urged the officers present to make
combined effort to bring about
change for the better in the field or
ganization. Capt. William Roberts
spoke of the special requirements Of
the surgeons who are detailed with
| cavalry in the field.
Maj. George S. Champion, National
Guard Of Pennsylvania, made an ad-
| dress on the camps of instruction for
| militia medical officers in 1909.
The use Of ambulance trains In the
| Austro-Hungarian army was the subject
| of an instructive paper prepared by Ober-
stabsarzt DR.. ]. Steiner of the Imperial
| and royal war ministry Of Austria. Sur,
| geon General Charles c. Foster discussed
| the method of training medical ohcers
of the militia, as a substitute for the
| regular correspondence school.
Organization Systems.
| After the papers were read the SUBJ
| ject of organization and administration
was brought up for general discussion
| among the members of the association.
Col. Valery Harvard, U. S. A., former
president of the association, led the dis
| cussion by advocating that the medical
| department of the army should have full
| control of it's own transportation.
His suggestion was greeted with ap-
plause and was frequently referred to
and Endorsed by others who partici-
pated in the general discussion Sew
eral speakers emphasized the fact that
| there is a vast difference between the
ordinary practitioner, or specialist, and
| the medical officer, and that the sur
geons of the National Guard did not
| lack technical knowledge, but a knowl-
edge of how to handle men. Of camp
routine and Of paper work. Maj. L. L.
Seaman. U. S. Volunteers, who made
!
took part in the discussion. Col. Har-
ward advocated the establishment of q
correspondence school for medical OFF,
GERS, in conjunction with the division
of militia affairs In the War Depart
ment
Sir Alfred Keogh of the British army
was then called upon to give his ideas Oh
i the subject under discussion. He said
the chief duty of the military surgeon
was to help his commanding officer win
battles by preventing the waste OF his
forces. first, by preventing disease, and
second, by sending back to the line as
| soon as possible those sick or wounded
who are ready for duty. He pointed out
| tary surgeons duties must not be ex-
| aggerated to tho point where 1t becomes
| a hindrance to the effectiveness Of the
| fighting units to which the surgeons are
| attached. "Our work. he said, rs hui
manitarian. but we are also an I'm.
| portant factor in the winning of battles
| Sir Alfred said that in the British army
| there had often been a great loss or
men brought about by sending the sick
and wounded home when they could well
| have been returned to the line. His
address was greeted with much ap-
| plause.
Supplies and Equipment.
Supplies and equipment were the next
subject brought up for discussion. Maj
Carl r. Darnall of the Medical Corps
read a paper In which he pointed out how
essential it was for the medical depart
| ments Of the organized militia to be prop.
erly equipped and how such equipment
| could be obtained from the national gov
eminent. If the acquisitions were properly
made out. The last paper read at the
morning session was by Lieut. Col. Ale
tandro Ross Of Mexico, who explained a
| new system of diagnosis TALES for
| wounded men.
The discussions during the afternoon
were on the subject of military surgery,
noon the members Of the association will
visit Fort Myer, where a special drill will
| be given in their honor.
Reception a Brilliant Affair.
The reception last evening in the audi
forum of Continental Memorial Hall was
brilliant affair. On the stage seated
at each side Of Surgeon Gen. Rixey.
United States Navy, the president of the
association. were a large number Of dis
tinguished surgeons. both American and
foreign, all in full dress uniforms. The
| stage was decorated with palms and the
| Stars and Stripes and the balconies were
| draped with the fages Of the nations to
which the visiting delegates belonged.
| the association and their wives and
| friends. listened with close attention to
the various addresses and applauded the
| speakers with much spirit
| The band Of the LIST Infantry. National
Guard Of the District of Columbia, d.
B. Macleod, leader, enlivened the pro-
ceedings with popular airs. Maj. Charles
Lynch, United States Army, presided.
When the hall became we'll filled. he
arose and introduced Rev. William w.
| Brander. chaplain of the 18th Cavalry,
| who pronounced the invocation.
| Hannis Taylor, special counsel Spanish
| treaty claims commission and former
| United States minister to Spain, de-
livered the opening address. in which he
discussed the status Of the military sur
geon according to the principles Of
| international law. He traced the growth
of the principles which eliminated at
the Geneva convention in 1864 in the
| naturalization of the sick and wounded
| in war and the adoption of the red
cross flag. THE last Hague conference"
he declared. failed utterly in carrying
out the good work that was begun by the
| first"
| Present Conditions.
| And now what are the conditions that
| confront us? few weeks ago Lord
Rosebery said that never in the history of
the world were such gigantic preparation
for war In progress as at the present mo-
ment. The world no longer thinks of in