The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-12-04
AMERICAS SURGEON GENERAL
IN COMMAND OF THOUSANDS
OF PHYSICIANS.
CARRIES ENORMOUS BURDEN
This Beloved officer and Most Noted
sanitarlan In World 10 Responsible
for Physical Well Being Of TIVE
Million Men.
BY EDWARD D. A n

-
States, and there are major generals
In Washington. Sometimes IL Is the
way of folks to think that the major
generals who are not under canvas are
not doing their full war duty. Give
ver the thought.
There are major generals in Wash
ington who are doing work which, TX
left undone. would not permit the
army to stay In the field a week.
There are several Of these major gen.
erals In the Capital City, but It Is OF
of them that II Is the present In
tention to write-Maj. Gen. William G.
Gorgas, surgeon general OF the United
States army.
1t Is to be wondered II any layman
In the land can conceive of the enor-
nous burden which Is resting upon
the shoulders Of this soldier doctor.
He is responsible today for the health
Of nearly 100000 of men. OF course,
II may be said that his subordinates
on the scene OF sickness or of casu-
alties are the ones responsible, but
this Is not so In any large sense. IL
trouble comes. responsibility quickly
Is shifted from subordinate to supe-
rior and the man at the head must
take II all.
WorId's Foremost s~anItarian.
william @. Gorgas is not only a sur
geon, but In the broadcast sense a fam
lily physician. and moreover he is ac-
knowledged by the medical fraterni-
ties OF all the world to be the fore
most sanitarian that mankind knows.
II Is not necessary to explain nor In
the least to apologize for putting down
here this word that the world says
concerning the ranking oficer of the
army's medical department. The
world knows that there Is proof OF
the word, and so n may write IL
unafraid Of the charge that he Is CIV
ing forth praise for which there IL not
full foundation. Not long ago the
medical department Of the United
States army consisted Of comparative
" few surgeons. Today the service
stands expanded MANIFOLD. Under
the command OF Doctor Gorgas there
are thousands upon thousands of ply
sicians.
The surgeon general Of the United
States army must know of conditions
at the smallest post In Arizona, and
ne must know at the same time OF
those of the biggest new National
army cantonment and In the camps OF
the expeditionary forces In France,
He is the family physician Of the big.
gest family ever gathered together un-
der the American nag since this coun-
try became a country.
Responsibility cannot overcome
either the courage or the energy Of
this beloved physician, for beloved he
Is to all members of the army family
who know him and who have felt the
b~eneficence Of his deeds. He Id
strong and gentle. brave and consider
ate. His officers love him and the
men who feel the effects of his min
istrations love him.
His Great Work In Panama.
1t was Gorgas, who, as a colonel Of
the medical department, made thu
Panama canal possible. For ten years
he lived In Panama. He turned thu
place from a pest hole into the most
healthful spot ON the face of the
globe. He overcame malaria and vel
low fever, and the yearly health sheet
Of the 1900 men working on the 18TH
mus was a cleaner sheet than tha'
which could be presented for any
equal number of men anywhere thu
world owe.
As soon as his great work vas done
at Panama the mine owners of Soutf
Africa petitioned the United States
government to allow him to visit theil
land, In order to study the problems
OF disease which there raised theil
puzzlfng interrogation marks. HI
went to South Africa, studied condi
tons for three months, made a report
and today the health Of the miners
In that part Of the world Is safeguard
ed in q way never known before ant
perhaps never dreamed Of before n
being possible.
When congress looked on the w0rl
done in Panama by the great engin
GERS, Goethals, Sibert, Gaillard
Hodges and the rest, 1t made up 1t
mind to give deserved recognition t
their services. Gaillard died befor
congress paid It's tribute to his mem
DRY, and 1t voted a sum of money t
his widow. The other engineers wer
given the thanks Of congress and pre-
noted to general rank.
Then congress looked on the wor
OF the great s~anitarian, William {
Gorgas, gave him It's thanks, and mad
him . major general In the medics
service OF the United States govern
ment. Under the command Of Ger
eral Gorgas today are hundreds Q
the best-known American physician
and surgeons who have volunteers
Tor service. There Ii nc man, howev
er renowned In the medical profession
who does mot willingly lend himself I
- guidance Of the eomnAnhef e =
moI1cn1 FORE.