The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-08-25
GUARDING HEALTH Of MILITIAMEN
SURGEON-GENERAL'S GREAT TASK
COL Henry P Birmingham Who Made the Health Record With
10000 Men Of the ManeWeT Division at San Antonio
Tells How 1t is 0one-Frst Obligation of Sanitary
Corps Is 10 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
lty for the health and physical well
fare of approximately 100000 men,
nearly all green and unseusoned, com
prisIng the members of the National
Guard muhillZed on account of the
Mexican situation, How they are per
forming this new task Is matter Of
deep concern To the relatives and
friends of the Guurdsmen.
The ugtlug surgeon general is Col
Henry T. Birmingham who kept the
camp of the maneuyer division Of
2O,OOO men ut san Antonio IN 1914 and
later rhe military expedition nj Vera
Cruz free from contugion and the men
IA h. ..ter general health than is usual
IN well-uanaged municipalities. To Il
representative of the New York sun
he made the following statement:
THE first obligation upon the sanl-
tary corps OF the army is To keep the
men In such physical condition that
they win be nj all times tit for duty
and since in the natural course Of
things some may be expected TO be IN
and In case of war some will be
wounded, provision must be made for
the care of the sick and the wounded
hut prevention of disease and the
maintenance Of health are Of the first
military Importance.
NO such loss from contagious as
that which developed during the Span
fish war can be repeated in any CON
centruJIun 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- |
her more than twice the whole mobile |
army of regulars, and have had hut |
little experience in campaign life, Few |
of them had camp service this year
before they We're called to the federal !
army; and most of them lacked sea
soning and in its extended sense, dis
cipline.
For five years we have been engaged
I'm 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
iil, II VIII be because green men under
inexperienced officers, with sanitary
companies containing mNny 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 saaitarians. Men
from all parts of the country, grad
uates Of the best medical schools. re-
Ceive tentantive appointments only
after winning them in competitive ex-
which test their profess I
siOnal, physical and moral fitness and =
are open to all the profession who are +
below thirty years Of age. They must +
then take a special course in the Army
Medical school in administration, mil
Itary sanitation, bacteriology and other q
before they receive their CON- y
as United States medical Of e
hcers. They have to serve with the
forces in the field and by actual work
with responsibility learn their profess
sion. r.
Attached to each organization, reg d
ment, brigade and division is a medi- n
cal officer and staff responsible for the =
health of the men of that command. e
In addition are the ambulance COM
Danies, whose duty it is to gather in
he wounded and remove them to the $
field hospital, to evacuate it by remov- e
ne the wounded as soon as possible II
o base hospital; and the field hoSpi- II
ais, whose work is to care for the t,
,ick or wounded and keep as close to a