Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-26
TRAINING DOCTORS
FOR THE u. S. ARMY


be killed in the war and the first to
be wounded were both in the Medical
Corps. This fact must have i'm
pressed the American people with
the serious risks which are taken by
army doctors.
AS a matter of fact, the officers and
enlisted men in the Medical Corps
are the only soldiers who 60 into No
Mans Land with no defense what
ever. The tireless work on the bat
tlefield of the stretcher bearers, all
of whom are in the Medical Corps, is
full Of danger.
Recently it has been stated that
the Government is about to assume
control of the entire medical profess
sion in the United States. TO obtain
sufficient doctors for the fast grow
ing army, and at the same time to
distribute those remaining to the 10
calities or services where they are
most needed for civilian work.
This mobilization would be accom-
plished either by enrolling all doc
tors in volunteer service corps I'M
der pledge to accept whatever serv-
ice. military or civilian, is assigned
them by the governing body of the
corps, or. if the voluntary plan is not
successful. by legislation providing
for drafting them into Government
service Medical officers of the Gov
ernmont believe compulsory conscrip-
ton will not be necessary.
No profession has volunteered its
services to tho country more gener-
ously than the medical profession
About $4,000 physicians, or nearly
one fourth of the eligible physicians
of the country, have expressed their
/ Willingness to resign practice and 20
to war.
Some have already received their
training and have gone to France
Some are waiting 10 be called. and
about 1000 arc now in the camps re-
ceiving the special instruction that
will fit them for military life.
When a physician receives word
that his offer to Join the army has
/ been accepted, he is ordered to report
| for duty al one of the two training
camps where army surgical schools
are located One is at Fort Riley
Kan, and the other is at Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Tenn.
The doctors live in barracks II
these camps. Just like any soldier il
the National Army. The complete
course of training which they under
go lasts three months.
The first month is given over tc
teaching them the simple rules an5
routine of military discipline. They
learn to drill and TO command com
panies OF men, and they study :hc
organization Of the army and .h-
functions of it's different parts.
During the second month they oc-
cupy themselves with the special du-
ties of medical officers. They ARK
taught how field hospital is run
how hospitals are managed benin
the lines and the new conditions ans
problems which confront an army q:
the European battle fronts.
During the third month thew CON
centrate upon some special branch OF
medical work. Some are specialists If
<A-Idy pIlptcS1 dpHN, some IN helC
surgery, and others in the various
other departments of medicine an
surgery.
About half of the graduates o.
these camps are sent away for serv.
ice in the front lines. The mer
picked for this are the younger me-
and those who are more robust anC
able to withstand the necessary
hardships.
The rest go into the different hos
pitfalls and institutions behind tht
lines.
OF course, it has not been possible
to train in this fashion all of the ply.
sicians in the Medical Corps. The
need was SO pressing that many hat
to be taken directly out Of civil lift
and given a uniform.
1t is the purpose of the surgeon
generals staff to do this as little Il.
possible in the future. so that III,
officers in the Medical Corps may al
) have a knowledge of military techni-
que.-Boston Globe.