The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-07-30
STUDENT ARMY PHYSICIANS.

~ iNCE The medical reserve corps
- OF the ermy was established in
- 1908. the government has done
little until this season TO instruct the
officers IN their duties. Practically
no action has been taken by the Of
ncers OF the corps to learn their
duties, except in the three ~organiza-
tons which have been fofmed ia New
York. Chicago and 81. Louis. These
bodies have arranged for lectures at
rare Intervals b. officers ~ the army
medical corps; further. individual
members Of the corps who have taken
unusual interest In the work have en-
deayorcd at times to obtain the de-
sired knowledge from medical Off
GERS Or al military posts. Although
all the members OF the corps are fur-
nished by tho war department with
certain standard books, only an ex-
ccedingly small percentage Of the
corps have profited by this attempt
Of tho government 10 furnish tech
nlcai Information as Ia their duties.
In consequence OF the apparent
lack OF interest on the part OF the
corps and the vel Of definite policy
Of the government. the organization
has accomplished practicaiy nothing;
and lack OF progress always means
retrogression
This year summer camps OF instrus-
ton were established In several
places. While the attendance az these
camps has not been large. says The
Journal Of the American Medlcll AS
ISOLATION. they are undoubtedly a
step in the right direction; they are
evidence that the government appre-
ciates thr necessity of giving to re-
serve medical officers technical in
struction in their duties y thai the
officers themselves welcome the long
deferred instruction. Realizing that
much could not be expected from
non-military medical men who wished
TO become soldiers. tho instructors did
not attempt to feed them with higher
tactics. but began with the simpler
litter drill. and similar elementary
work.
The work Of these camps OF in
%struction, while relatively elementary.
II as necessary TO the medco-mllitary
neophyte ar is the study OF anatomy
10 Inc medical student or the 'three
RS 10 the SCHOOL child. 1t Is hoped
that the handicap which existed this
year will be removed before next
summer. n that the officers Of the
medical reserve corps. vino wish to
learn more Of the duties pertaining
to their position, may not bee obliged
to furnish their own transportation
and subsistence, but may DC placed
for purposes Of training on the active
list of the medical reserve corps and
thereby entitled TO transportation and
the pay OF their grade. II opportu-
nifty should he given 60 an officers Of
the corps 20 come under instruction
next summer, the additional expense
to the government would be repaid
many times by the enthusiastic coo
operation of the Officers who takc the
course. and by their increase In eff
cheney.
The Interest manifested 10y the Of
hcers who took the course of instruc .
ton this ummor the eagcrness with
which they absorbed Information. the
desire shown by many io return for
subsequent courses. all indicate that
the medical reserve corps of the
army. inactive list. takes he position
seriously and believes that II ~ "a
patriotic duty 10 become efficient. 80
that In time Of its oountry's need Il
will not be found wanting