New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-17
ARMY CALLS SURGEONS
NEEDS IN PEACE AND WAX.
Naual Officer Fears Breakdown OF
the Medical Department.

The military obligations of the medical profession
discussed in a series of articles IN the CURRENT
issue of The Medical Record.
Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson X. Kean' U. 3 A,
In writing OF the need for full quota OF trained
medical officers in time of peace. says
We need however. something more-we want
men. The granting Of logical organizau9n %tii
Client young men There are at resent loi va
eanees in me medical 81 the aFy bd Ray
prospect of promotion have all been recently great
n now i' offer what we could not year ago-an
tractive career 10 the young medical graduate -.
corps yq is given the rank Of rst lieutenant his
pay is 800 year he is furnished IN aadf fSs
lights. forage professional books and instruments;
the government at cost When he travels under
packs and transports his properly, and When neees
@ b sseres i9r NM 1d m cntafn and his
pay is raised to s2aOO at the end of Two years
think it is a fair estimate to say that upon
the Ss ae ss s ns Of fs e nd
OF fve years service the equivalent OF $4,000 year
bsnner IN civil W prasee Is so sr%n With
and with dollars and his professional services are
sidered unworthy Of notice Il must be that young
are not well m s 20 he S he
army and navy
DIR. Charles r. Stakes. U. 5. N. discussing the
medical department of the navy in times OF war
writes:
Theoretically. all departments OF the navy should
when war is imminent for the navy to attempt
ciared to-day the breakdown in the medical de-
part @ OF the navy would be as sppsns as any
struction as now given is utterly ineffective. on
medical ocers Raus this Instruction 10 Tye AND
this for short periods comparatively long inter-
The line officers should instruct the men. and
this instruction should be part OF every drill
q q
OF each drll period devoted 70 the work would soon
conhne their efforts in first aid TO preparing the
line
the matter OF hits. and they should be made 10
realize that the enemy is going TO be just about
as effective as they. and that the preparation for
probable injuries should be seriously considered and
Let us suppose that the Atlantic feet its
cent cruise h3d engaged an equally powerful enemy.
sons cf the Russo ia panese War have learned
W Ha5 ne 9n Tst provide for 80 per cent Of casualties
wounded If the action had taken place at Il point
The hospital snip Relief with it's 215 beds would
nave been about as much use as dressing station
20 an army As a wireless OUTFIT was denied this
ship; IN order 10 keep within signal distance. II
would have been Obliged 10 remain within the dan
chance OF being destroyed. When gives the
nag, common humanity demands aside A from 1' All
questions OF military efficiency. that proper pro-
vision be made TO minimize ones suffering and
make recovery possible should one be wounded.
To meet this situation. DR. Stokes says there
should be one spacious. stable hospital ship with
capacity OF at least Ave hundred beds with each
fleet. and at least one fast ambulance ship with
each feet 20 act as tender and medical transport.
to be employed in removing the wounded shore
hospitals A naval medical corps should
be established he says that those whose services
will be required In war times shall be familiar with
their duties and the pecuarities OF the naval ser
vice. and properly appointed hospital ships should
b. specially built for the purpose
DR. William @. lie Boutillier discusses the ma
tional guard surgeon. saying;
From the point OF view of the average line officer
medical officer Is necessity a necessary evil
In order that recruits may be examined physically
one and have their recruits examined by physicians
not In the national guard The line officer rarely
takes any interest tn the hospital he
training OF the medical officer perform his milf
that in the field efficient medical department is
as important as the supply of food, shelter and
ammunition.
The national guard being organized as a divis-
ion. should have four field hospitals instead OF
only the one that yet exists. and the number OF
enlisted men IN each should be IFS while only
armory space and money to provide uniforms and
equipment AS the field hospital has little re-
'cruiting to do compared with other detachments
OF the medical department, 10 been possible
It's commanding officer, Major William s. Terri
berry. to arrange satisfactory course OF instrtc-
ton for its officers and men In their military
duties.
Nowhere else in the state are the medical officers
and hospital corps men we'll trained for their
actual duties I'm the field. In the field a large
number OF them must ride, but present they
or 10 care for horses. except those who are in the
neld hospital and about twelve officers aud twenty
hospital corps men attached cavalry, field
aruIiery ana signal corps organizations.