The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-01-10
is perhaps somewhat

UE3aEgg0 strange, and yet it is a
VGENN fact, that friends, and
gA-Ag especially parents, of
boys who enlist in the navy are
more gravely concerned for the
health of the men than with the
prospect of battle casualties.
This state of mind is 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 are
apprehensive that their sons may
become i'll and not receive proper
medical care.
As one mother put it, IF the
boys are going to be wounded or
killed it is only what we must ex-
pect. It's part of the war sacrifice
and it can't be helped. We must
give our lives and the lives of those
dearer to US than our own without
question, but it is a terrible thing
to think of their being i'll or ex-
posed to disease needlessly with no
one to take care of them"
The answer to this woman was
to show her through the medical
department. headquarters in the
navy annex building and to explain
to her just what is being done, not
only to care for those who are i'll
but to prevent men of the navy
from becoming i'll. She went away
contented-her mind at 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 all
ment he would have everything it
is humanity possible to give him
except her care.
Obviously, it is impossible to
explain personally to all callers
just how the medical department
of the navy is conducted and how
it works, but through the Maga-
zine 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 ill or deli
cate man cannot perform the duties
required in the navy. He is bur-
den. He not only is useless himself
while i'll but it requires other men
to care for him, and he often be-
comes menace to his shipmates.
From the standpoint of efficiency
then, the navy must do everything
in it's power to keep the men well
and strong. If for no other rea-
son this should reassure those inter
ested in enlisted men in the navy.
Then take the medical officers
1t is their duty to cure the i'll and
prevent the we'll from becoming
ill. If they do not perform this
duty satisfactorily they come to be
known as inefficient officers. 1t is
matter of pride with them to dis
charge their duty we'll and faith.
fully. Moreover, it is the spirit
and tradition of the corps to feel q
human interest in all 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 8
family physician has toward his
patients.
That is feeling which cannot
be bought and paid for. 1t is the
outgrowth of their training, part
of the esprit de corps of the medi'
cal department.
At the heads of the branches and
bureaus of the navy department
are men actuated by the same prin.
ciDleS-men who feel that it ia the
enlisted sailor who is making the
greatest sacrifices for the flag anc
that he is entitled to the very best
in comfort and care.
No man who is not physically
sound and in good health can en-
list. Therefore the recruit is sup