El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-18

w Situated on the outskirts OF
neglected corner Of the
national capital, on the site that was
selected by general Washington for the
university OF the United States. the
Naval Medical school is an institution
almost unknown even to the majority
of the residents of Washington. And
yet the work it has been doing in fit
ting medical men for service as naval
surgeons, has been such as to entitle it
70 olStlnctlon among the many scien-
tlfic activities Of the federal govern
ment Not only does IL train the medi-
cal officers Of the navy in the work
they nave to do, for the navy itself in
peace and IN war, but its courses OF
study lead them into fields Of research
and investigation, such as have made
the naval surgeon one OF the foremost
OF the opponents OF preventive medi-
cine and public health.
The school was established in 1902
by an order of the navy department, in
the face Of the fact that previous ef-
forts to establish such an institution
had failed. The course of instruction
lasts six months, beginning October ].
It's chief purpose is to prepare an al
ready well educated medical man for
graphing with the problems presented
by a rapidly growing naval medical
service, and to enable him from the
very beginning Of his career as naval
surgeon to assist in the solution OF
some OF these problems. 1t begins
where the regular medical school ends.
and gives opportunity for specializa-
ton for naval work.
Tropical Studies Are Foremost.
Foremost in its curriculum is the
subject of tropical medicine While
the army surgeon needs to study this
subject, and often has occasion TO
utilize his knowledge, in such fields
as the Philippines. Porto Rico and
Panama, the naval surgeon needs it
during large proportion OF his time.
A fleet Of batueShipS or a single gun
boat calls at some tropical port, where
the administration of the public
health is distinguished chiefly for its
laxity. Shore leave to the sailors means
all kinds Of risks of exposure to one
tropical disease or another. The sur
geOn must be posted on these diseases. I
many Of them ailments he knew only
in theory prior to his cruise in tropical
waters
ridden. little republic may threaten the
peace and safety of the foreign pOpu-
latiOu, and the navy may be called upon I
to send its marines ashore for the |
purpose Of protecting life and property. |
as was done in Nicaragua Without !
special training in tropical medicine /
the surgeon might not be able to con-
troll an epidemic or TO protect the /
health Of his men.
The naval surgeon needs to have a /
cosmopolitan view of disease This 1
month he may be cruising in equatorial /
waters and next month in medical /
charge Of an expedition into polar seas. /
Il has been from the lack of know
ledge of the physician concerning |
tropical medicine that such diseases as
,ellagra and hOOkwOrm existed for
generations unrecognized in our own
country.
Another item that enters into he
special needs of the naval surgeon is
he fact OF his isolation during a Ia 'ge /
part Of his professional life. The only
medical man on board a ship. with
perhaps a thousand men under his
.harge. he is often so far away from
)ther medical resources that he must
De his own specialist Without oppor-
unity for consultation, he must rely
solely on his own knowledge and skill. I
1nowing full well that there are
higher powers to whom he must re-
port. and that the navy department
arefully scruntinizes these reports.
rhe work Of the Naval Medical school
s designed to give him a specialists
raining in those matters which may
rise on shipboard where the work of
specialist is needed.
Germs Cause Most Trouble.
Germs are the causes Of almost all
T the tropical diseases with which the |
laval surgeon has to deal, so the Naval /
fedical school lays especial stress upon ]
he necessity Of a practical knowledge
f parisitOlogy and bacteriolOgy. IN
his work both lectures illustrated !
With lantern slides and laboratory |
work are given and these are supple ! q
nented with actual experience IN J
linical work on cases furnished by |
he naval hospitals. The surgeon is
aught to prove his work by cultivating /
ifferent sorts Of germs. shown how