The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-08-31
GUARDING HEALTH OF M|LITIAMEN
SURGEON GENERALS GREAT TASK
Col Henry P. Birmingham, Who Made the Health Record With
10000 Men of the ManeNer Division at San Antonio
Tells How 1t is Done-First Obligation of Sanitary
Corps Is to Keep Men Fit for Duty

New York-The surgeon general Of
the United States army and his medi-
cal officers have suddenly had placed
upon them the additional responsible
ity for the health and physical well
fare of approximately 100000 men,
nearly all green and unseasoned, COM
prising the members of the National
Guard modified on account OF the
Mexican situation. How they are per-
forming this new task is a matter of
friends of the Guardsmen.
The acting surgeon general is Col.
Henry 2. Birmingham, who kept the
camp of the maneuver division of
10000 men at San Antonio in 1914 and
later the military expedition at Vera
Cruz free from contagion and the men
in better general health than is usual
in well-managed municipalities. To a
representative of the New York Sun
he made the following statement:
"rhe first obligation upon the sani-
tary corps of the army is to keep the
men in such physical condition that
they will be at all times fit for duty
and since in the natural course of
things some may be expected to be i'll
and in case of war some will be
wounded, provision must be made for
the care of the sick and the wounded !;
but prevention of disease and the
maintenance of health are of the first
military Importance,
mo such loss from contagious as
that which developed during the Span
ish war can be repeated in any con-
centratiOn of troops on our southern
borders or in state camps, although
the problem of caring for the National
Guard troops, who know very little
about taking care of themselves, is
not easy of solution. These men num-
Der more than twice the whole mobile
army of regulars, and have had but
little experience in campaign life. Few
of them had camp service this year
before they were called to the federal
army; and most of them lacked sea-
sOning and, in it's extended sense, dis
cipline
''For five years we have been engaged
in looking after troops along the south
ern borders we know the diseases we
must expect, and we are prepared to
meet them. If an epidemic breaks
out, or many men be taken seriously
Ill, it will be because green men under
inexperienced officers, with sanitary
companies containing many recruits,
have neglected or failed to comply
with the orders and instructions of the
federal sanitary officers.
Made Up of Experts.
"The regular army medical corps is
made up of highly specialized physi
clans, surgeons and sanitarianS. Men
from all parts of the country, grad
yates of the best medical schools, re-
ceive tentantive appointments only
after winning them in competitive eX-
aminations which test their profess
sional, physical and moral fitness and
are open to all the profession who are
below thirty years of age. They must
then take special course in the Army
Medical school in administration, mil
itary sanitation, bacteriology and other
subjects before they receive their COM
missions as United States medical of
ficers. They have to serve with the
forces in the field and by actual work
with responsibility learn their profess
sion.
Attached to each organization, reg
iment, brigade and division is medi-
cal officer and staff responsible for the
health of the men of that command.
In addition are the ambulance COM
panies, whose duty it is to gather in
the wounded and remove them to the
field hospital, to evacuate it by remov-
ing the wounded as soon as possible
to base hospital; and the field hospi-
tails, whose work is to care for the
sick or wounded and keep as close to