The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-23

ah,,ed Predecessor from North Caro-
|lns: u.,c,
Navy Department
% May, 1929.
Stt. 4 enclose copy Of a resolution
- the House OF Representatives of the
1s,h February, 1929, instructing the
Secretary OF the Navy "to require
thrso of the Medical Officers Of the
Now vho he shall designate, to re-
mort Ia him their opinions, separately,
whether il is necessary or ~expedient,
,,at distilled spirits should constitute
,,rt nj the rations allowed to Mid
sbipmen."
" compliance with this resolution /
haze designated YOU as one of the
Medical Officers. and request your
OPINION. as early as may be convent
cnt. hat I may transmit a report on
zine subject at the mex session Of Con
gross. am. respy. &c,
JNO. BRANCH.
pr. Wu. i. =. Barton,
surgeon L. S. Navy,
Philadelphia.
4 letter Of like tenor was addressed
70 Surgeon Lewis Herman and
Thomas Harris, Z. s. Navy. DR.. Heer-
man entered the service in 1901 and
lied in 1888; DR.. Barton entered in
1909. died 1856; DIR. Harris entered
1872. died 1861. DIT. Barton was chos-
49, g. CUT e .L- p,~1a, -
Medicine aud Surgery on its establish
mept in 1912 and was followed in Of
Gee by DR.. Harris. DR.. Herman ac-
compauied Stephen Decatur into Tri-
poll harbOr in 1904 when the Phila-
delphia was destroyed under the guns
OF the paSha's Castle and n sur
rounding corsair ships of the enemy
I'm compliance with the order, these
three eminent and experienced med
zeal gentlemen submitted individual
replies that were printed in a quain
old volume that must have lain on tn
desk Of Secretary Branch, for a hand
some red leather label, fooled ant
printed in gold, bears mute testimon.
TO the fact that it was once his per
sonal copy. This volume is preserved
n the oihce of Library and Naval Wa
Records where lies so much of tn
brave story of our navy, in print an
manuscript.
The reports Of these three nava
medical authorities. probably the bes
three OF the Navy at the time,
headed with the title:
Aticnt Observation-Disclosures.
h3ch OF these eminent gentleme
strongly condemned the use of ardeT
spirits by the midshipment and point
ga out IA no uncertain language tn
INJURY that was legally inflicted o
officers and sailors by the issuance {
the spirit ration.
Ut Herman states, ~ do myse
,he honor to report. that youthfl
"etlth and vigor are, under commo
circumstances, fully competent to III
uerso with certainty and safety tt
eApoS1res n fatigues of naval Sc
we REM ering this stimulating be
ei's' as an article of daily consum]
."'r Unnecessary. And as abstinen'
uVR. II with substition of value,
''Htt article in the ration. would II
aN'I' an actual privation (~unless as
i'-HL arise from a depraved appetit'
~ V'ity issue Of ardent spirits
-'usioered ineXpedient. Since n
i''rSt recollection, however, of tn
r.'>s on officers, in the year 1901,
81 an Improvement has be,
Ti"AEnt in respect to this part
,lelr allowance, from a moral impul:
- 'l It's progressive operation, t
r0'4Attty dismissal of distilled spir
.H luelr meSSeS might be reasonat
anticipated.
SHOULD each midshipnlen (from |
'ppointment) use the quaint
UiSliied spirits (half a pint) viii
d,n. ~ IA" constitutes a part Of t
10y ration" the effects would be
+iyority of instances pcrnicious
49, 'eaith and morals of individuals
e'SiNe IN the end of rational d
,pu3"' and dangerous to the jus
.g'N ana chiyalric character of I
80 carton reports, ut cannot
constitute a part of the ration auo
80 mIdshipmen,' and sets forth
terms the evil of intemperar
f'Vth: the injury to morals. ne