Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-25
THE u. S. HOSPITAL. SERVICE---II.
N t'ur,i:,,tt >. ,,AsI<i>

49,
WASlllNGTuN. February 2i.--,,or
III" past Nv" ycarp tho Mcdicnl corpa
az tho army hna hcrn preparing for
war the w"rk has progressed In,
slowly. II u true ~ chnnEo Of per
sonnet here. a store OF supplies there
ana II urw insta ilation in II base hos.
pttnl somewhere else yet. with the
aid OF the Rcd Cross. a largo organ b.
i%atiun has hccn mobiliscd Tor a,ryi.r
In case ni war Tho surH Con. gc,rraI
"f the arm, has tho names or hundreds
Of civilian physiCinnS ready IL voI,in
tc"r al - m"mcnta notice: the War be-
partmrnt ~ in touch with many pn
trictic Americans willing To rut their
houses at tn" disposal OF the army IT
TIA" need should arise. aud tho Medical
Corps itSClf has laid out a working
piAn Tor the hospital service in time Of
war. based ON the systems in opera
ton in Europe and the recent cNpc-
ri"n,c "f the sanitary corps on the
McNicTu border
Supp""" that the United states hns
actually declared war. Volunteers as
we'll rs regulars. are being mobiliAcd
az Nari"uS stations throughout the
country Tor transportation To some do
mrs'i" roiut. or IL the center Of hoa-
tiitics abroad Enter III" Medical
Corps Every man must be pat thruuEh
q rigid physical examination before
AGAINST smallpox ana typhoid fever. and
h" must be instructed in the use nr
the nrst-aid packet. one of which ia
Included III tho equipment Of each man
Fho*" ar" the first duties of the Med
',o! Corps. according 10 its working
man YIN army surgeon is stationed
with each company OF troops. with as
slsiani surgeons, il ncccssary whose
duty il is 10 watch the men in their
preliminary training and note any ply
~t'"l weakness tina nay be manifested
! ~ army does nnt want to train ;tuI
transport man AL the way 10 The
canS'r zone. ANA then have him ruli
Ill ON Is hands. The first sanitary
precaNiI"n. says General Gorgas. sur
.-'"n general of thc army. us TO secure
healthy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sound
mcn' the second is to safeguard their
health by pure food. water and healthy
camp surroundings. and by The pre-
N'a'tou OF infectious diseases"
Sanitation IL Important.
Thus the second duties of the Med
icai Corps have TO do almost entirely
with sanitation. Camp sitcn nowadays
ar" chosen as much for their sanitary
af their strategic qualifications. Fresh
water must be pipcd to the camp. and
II ther" Is any question as to It's
purity. Il must be boiled before drink
ing Milk and uncookcd vegetables
ar" ais" closely inspected for the pres
cnee OF the deadly typhoid germ. and
the commissary is conducted on the
most scientific principles TO secure the
greatest efficiency and the least midi
rcston That such extensive prccau-
tionS pay Cor their trouble Is Illus
trat"d 10y the experience of the sani-
tary corps both in the Canal Zone ana
on the Mexican border
When the troops are moved 10 a stra-
'cGic position. anticipating action the
territory is divided into what. IN milf
tary terms. are known IS the zone OF
advance. the line OF communications
and the interior. The Medical Corps
nnw faces it's third and most elaborate
Guty-thc care Of the Sick and wound
"a. In this its work is clearly defined
II is 10 render temporary aid 10 tho
wounded and get them az quickly AZ
possible TO the hospitals hack OF the
Zone of advance, where tho hospita!
service takes up the work The zone
of advance IL tho zon" OF action where
tho lighting takes place. tho line OF
communications is AN intermediate
section. where the supply department
and the sanitary, telegraph and mill
tary railways services are organized.
and III" interior is even farther back.
with more supplies and more hospitals
With each battalion that marches
into the zone Of advance 10 meet the
enemy. go several members of the Med
Teal Corps under tho surgeon Of the
regiment. who establish an Aid station
Guiding tent. a medical and surgical
chest. II field desk. littcrs. drugs and
II bag containing water for s,criliza-
ton purposes, arc carried ON The back
OF AN army pack mule and on the am
wagons.
Medirni Corp. Get. Busy.
~ soon as the firing begins, the
luanib"rs Of the Medical Corps become
whirlwinds Of activity. The surgeons
crawl about administering aid while
tho assistants gather III" wounded in
= roupS and carry those with the most
serious wounds 10 tho aid station Of the
70 gimcnt for treatment Men receiving
only slight wounds are attended to
right on the field and sent back TO
their commands or positions. some |
times these men, when able TO walk |
arc sent TO the stations for the slightly 7
wounded. several miles in the rear. FOR /
he dressing stations aud field hospitals J