The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-02-21
TELLS HOW UNCLE SAM
TRAINS ARMY DOCTORS
Captain +. l.. Wood OF Lynden Des-
cribes Life And Work At Govern
ment Camp

How the United States government
trains it's physicians for army SER
vice is described by Captain Frank
L. Wood of Lynden, in a letter rec
eived by The Tribune this week. DR..
Wood is stationed at the government
camp at Fort Riley. Kansas.
There are about one thousand
medical officers in training here now,
and some are coming and going all
the time" " DR.. Wood writes. Il have
been asked by friends to look up GER
tain doctors or men here, but it is
practically impossible as all are SO
busy. We have physical exercises,
military drill, marches and horse
back riding besides four hours of
lectures daily. Those taking the reg
ular course walk about twelve miles
course, / only travel about six or
eight, in addition to physical exercis-
es.
Those of us taking the special
courses will get one month postgrad-
uate work at New York in March or
April, presume. l was barred from
doing field work on account of lit
tie heart trouble that really doesn't
amount to anything, but they want
only men who are physically perfect
to do field work.
There are seven surgeons with
each regiment of toops, and these
doctors are right in the thick OF 1t,
four of them being in the aid stations
which may be in a trench or dugout,
and the other three are right with
the men, and go over the top with
them when they advance.
about ten per cent of all the per-
sonnell of the army are sanitary
troops, that is, take care of the sick
and wounded, and about one man in
every hundred in the army must be
a doctor. That is why the govern
ment wanted 10000 or more doctors,
and got them.
"Of the doctors here, all Of them
are successful physicians and surg
cons, and some have left very large
practises to do their DIt. More than
fifty per cent are married, and have
families: about thirty per cent are
over forty years of age. This would
indicate that the army is supplied
with doctors of a high average OF
ability and experience.
1t may seem strange to most people
that a physician should require three
months or more of training to pre-
mare him for service, but the reason
is that a surgeons work must be done
according to military rules and con-
form to military tactics, or he would
be a hindrance instead OF a help ani
three months is a short time in which
IN become accustomed to military tao
tics and methods.
His first duty is to keep as many
effective men in the fighting linc d
nossible: his second is to get the
wounded out of the way of the fight
ing troops so they Will hol Ai'oei
them: his third, strange to say, Is to
succor and treat the wounded. How
ever. this is not as bad as is looks
because he performs all three duties
at the same time.
Even if the war lasts a year OF
more, it is quite likely that 5'ooo OF
more of the surgeons now in the ar
nv. will not cross the pond, as it Will
require a good many to look after
the troops on this side, and care 1oi
the eonvalescent cases that Will De
sent back.
However, there will be plenty iof
all of us to do, and those who areh
lucky enough to get a chance on '.ie
other side. will no doubt accept theli
lot with good grace y