Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1917-11-02
William O. BREASTED. Surgeon Gen.
eral, United States Navy, In New
York Herald Magazine Of
tho War.


II Is perhaps somewhat strange, and
yet II Is n fact, that friends. and espe-
cially parents, OF boys who enlist In
the navy nre more grnvely concerned
for the health OF the men than with
the prospect OF battle casualties.
Tits state Of mind Ii evidenced In
hundreds Of letters which come to the
office OF the surgeon general and In
the personal calls OF scores OF fathers
and mothers who nre apprehenslve that
their ons may become Iii and not re-
celve proper medical care.
As one mother put II, III the boys
are going to be wounded or killed II
II only what we must expect. It's
part of the war sacrifice and II can't
be helped. We must give our lives
and the lives OF those denrer to us
than u own without question, but II
Is n terrible thing to think Of their
being III or exposed to disease need
lessly with no n to take car Of
them"
The answer TO this woman was TO
show her through the medical depart
ment's headquarters In the navy an
mex building and to explain to her just
what Is being done, l. / only to are
for those who nre III but to prevent
men Of the navy from becoming III.
She went away contented-her mind
ut rest. A mothers care can, Of
course, not be replaced by anything In
the world. but she was satisfied that
should her boy contract any ailment
he would have everything II IL hui
manly possible to give him except her
care.
Obviously. It is impossible to ex-
plain personally TO all callers Just how
the medical department Of the navy IL
conducted and how II works, but
through the Magazine OF the War l
will be able to reach thousands OF
mothers and fathers who perhaps have
been concerned about the same thing.
In the first place. an III or delicate
man cannot perform the duties re-
quired In the navy. He is a burden.
He not only Is useless himself while
III but II requires other n I to caro-
for him, and he often becomes n men
C to his shlpmates.
From the standpoint OF efficiency,
then, the navy must do everything In
Its power to keep the men well and
strong. II for no other reason this
should reassure those interested In en-
listed men In the navy.
Then take the medical officers. II
II their duty to cure the III and pre-
vent the we'll from becoming III. II
they do not perform this duty salts
fnctorily they come to be known as
inefficient officers. II ls a matter OF
pride with them to discharge their
duty well and faithfully. Moreover.
II Is the spirit and tradition OF the
corps 10 feel n human interest In oil
the men and boys who come under
their care. They are specialists In
their line and yet they regard the men
with the same personal feeling that a
family physician has toward his pa.
tients.
That Is a feeling which cannot be
bought and paid for. II Is the out.
growth Of their training, a part OF the
esprit do corps OF the medical depart.
ment.
At the heads OF the branches and
bureaus Of the navy department are
men actuated by the same principles
men who feel that Il Is the enlisted
sailor who ls making the greL test sac
rinces for the flag and that he Is en-
titled to the very best In comfort ant
a
No man who Is not physically SOUND
and IN good health can enlist. There
fore the recruit Is supposedly vel
when no enters the navy. The firsi
weeks Of his service are passed at I
training station, where he Is mad,
stronger physically, and here the reg
ular life and exercise make him eve
more healthy. ms everybody can testify
who has watched the recruits arriv,
at a station and has seen them leave 1
few months later, standing straighter
weighing more and often an incl
taller.
He is then assigned to some uni
in the regular navy. There he IL un
der the constant supervision OF physI
clans who have made a study Of tn
conditions under which he Is Twin
and the ailments and dlsease TO whicI
he IL liable. This Is more than coul,
be said OF him at home.
IN the office OF the surgeon genera
u the navy hangs q map Of the Unite,