The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-06-13
MEDICAL DEPART MEMT
ITS CARE OF THE ARMY
IT'S GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
MORALE OF MEN-GoRGAS
AND HIS GREAT WORK.
journal of American Medical Associ-

nearer the hearts of the people in
time of war than the medical depart
ment. Fathers and mothers whose
sons have enlisted may reconcile
themselves IL these sons are killed In
battle; but If they have reason to fear
that their sons have been neglected
when sick or wounded. they develop
a spirit of bitterness for which there
can be no antidote. This natural at
titude of mind is more or less apparent
In all wars. mother may bear with
pride the news of the death OF her
son struck down in charge or while
stubbornly resisting an advancing foe;
there Is no consolation when she has
reason to believe his death unneces-
sary, or that his death was not guard
ed by every known agency. If ne
dies from disease, as many soldiers
must, she wishes to feel that kindness,
intelligence and skill were at his SER
vice, and that the best OF human eff
fort was put forth in the endeavor to
save him. If she realizes that he had
every aid in his extremity that he
could have enjoyed at home, she con-
soles herself knowing full well that
death must come to all
While failure of the medical corps In
the prosecution of war leads to grave
disaffection at home, it has an even
more serious effect on the morale OF
the army itself. The soldier may
bear great discomfort in his quarters
or on the march-he may even court
death on the battlefield-but he ex-
poets the best of care. sympathetic
and kindly attention, and competent
medical skill when he Is sick or
wounded In this he Is fully within
his rights When these helps fail, he
becomes discouraged and even the
ardor Of patriotism fails to sustain
him. individually he becomes morose
and complaining and in the mass in
efficient. An army may be decimated
by the missiles of the enemy and not
only retain its courage, but become
contemptuous of danger and death.
when wasted by disease, however, OF
when Its wounded soldiers are neglect
ed on the field, 1t ceases to be an eff
ficient lighting machine.
The disastrous effects of inadequate
protection of the health and life of the
soldier are not confined to disaffection
at home and decentralization. even
when moderately felt, lead to q great
reduction in the lighting strength and
the combative spirit, All nations en-
gagged in this war realize the vital I'M
portance of the medical service and
have provided literally for its equip
ment, personnel and maintenance. In
the European armies, those of our al
lies and those of our enemies, medical
officers have been given higher rank,
invested with more authority and held
to greater responsibility than has been
known at any time in the past. The
medical service has responded most
satisfactorily to these Announcements
In honor, trust and duty, and with the
line officers to heed the reasonable
requests of the medical corps in the
Mesopotamian campaign, there has
been no cause for complaint.
So far as we have advanced in this
war, there is no ground for serious
complaint of or by the medical ser
vice. The president of the United
States has recommended advanced
rank and authority for medical OFF,
GERS. and at the present writing 1t
seems that both houses OF congress
are in sympathy with this request
Appropriations have been liberal and.
best of all. the medical department
has so guarded the health of our sold
iers that no army even on-tenth the
size of ours. has ever been mobilized
with sickness and death rates so low.
Indeed, so far as we know, no army OF
raw troops has been assembled with
the death rate calculated for all ages
as low as that of the civilian popula-
ton from which the soldiers have
been drawn. In this country this Is
about IA per thousand annually. In
the Spanish American war the death
rate from disease greatly exceeded this
figure, and ran above 20 per thousand.
During the six winter months of 1917
1918, the annual death rate among all
soldiers in this country was 81 per
thousand In many camps the death
rate has been lower than i'm the same
age group In those sections of the
country from which the troops have
come.
This in brief, pictures the response
bility OF the medical department OF
the army. 1t Is responsibility which
ii gladly assumes 1t may promise
without tinge of doubt that 1t will do
its utmost to safeguard the morals,
the health and the lives of our sold
iers As we write, there stands out
the prominent fact in this work the
medical department has had as
leader man who has the respect and
confidence of all the American people
and of all the scientists of the world.
The public, and the medical profess
sion especially are fortunate In hav-
ing at the head of the medical depart
ment of the army, in the present crisis,