Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
MEDICAL SERVICE
DIFFICULT PROBLEM
OF MODERN WARS
Army Sanitation and Care
for Wounded Cannot Be
Thorough on Account of
Personnel Involved.

The ideas of the public in regard to the
important questions of sanitation and the
care of the wounded of an army are de-
to read the following extract from an
| article OH the subject in the special war
number of the Scientific American:
Military sanitation, the service devoted
to keeping the soldier in health, has re-
ceived little attention from the general
public. 1t is closely related to the health
problems of civil communities. Military
conditions have afforded opportunities for
striking demonstrations Of the possibility
of controlling yellow fever, malerial fever
and typhoid fever, so that there Is good
ground to hope that in the future armies
need not be decimated by disease.
The plans and organization Of the
strictly medical service of armies, which
cares for the sick and wounded, are
seldom discussed. The public In general
Is content to dismiss the subject with
some general statement to the effect that
sick and wounded soldiers, especially in
war, should have every comfort which
money can buy: that nothing Is too good
for those citizens who risk their lives in
its defense. ..
The sentiment which prompts such a
statement is most commentaries tho
manner in which 1t is put In practice may
we'll be most thoughtfully considered, in
order that IN case of war there may be
intelligent cooperation between the medi-
cal department OF the army and the
great body of the people who are anxious
to render assistance. There must be a
complete and definite understanding as
to what is to be accomplished. the means
available for its accomplishment, and the
limitations under which the work must
be conducted. The latter consideration Is
OF prime Importance, for 1t must be con-
stantly borne in mind that the medical
service Is at best but a minor accessory
to great machine, the purpose of which
Is to win battles.
PERSONNEL RESTRICTED.
The most elementary study of the SUBJ
ject sufIices TO show us that any army
troops at the front medical service suf-
ficlent to render immediate aid to all the
wounded in a great battle would be sub
merged by the personnel and equipment
required. Aggressive action would be a
physical impossibility. Our greatest mill
tary authorities tell us-and history con-
firms the statement-that victory Is won
BY the army which has learned to cam
paign with minimum of baggage. which
can move rapidly, and concentrate its
strength quickly on the enemy's weak
point and deliver the decisive blow before
the enemy has an opportunity to rein
force the vulnerable spot The army
which is rendered cumbersome by the
abundance of its supplies and which dis
sipates it's energies in guarding its wagon
trains IS an easy prey for a mobile
opponent.
The old hunter can be identified by the
meagreness OF his knit He has learned
by experience how few articles are worth
thir weight and the room they require
in tine ield,
Volunteer soldiers, individually and coll
lectively as armies, are particularly prone
to burden themselves with equipment OF
all kinds, most OF which they later dis
card as worthless impediments.