Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-18

supplies the arms and ammuni-
q ton with which to make pos
sible a victory over the enemy. The
left hand of the Army is the Army
Medical Corps. which maintains the
high standard.
When America entered the war
months elapsed before the first contin-
gent of United States soldiers actually
stood face to face with the Hun. But
with the first assignment to camp OF
drafted men, Surgeon General William
c. Gorgas and the Army Medical Corps
were called upon Immediately to fight
disease.
The growth of the fighting arm of the
Army, while, perforce, rapid. could ex-
tend, at least, over a few brief months
But the very act of that growth threw
upon tho Army Medical Corps the re-
sponsibility of assuring an unimpeded
expansion through the control of dis
ease. Consequently, the development
of the corps represents one of the most
important phases of Americas war pro-
gram. and INVOLVES the medical profess
sion of the entire country, with the vast
scientific knowledge that implies.
X ::
on April 1, 1917, just six days prior to
our declaration of war against Ger
many, the Medical Corps of the Army
included less than $50 officers in the
regular service, and about $500 medical
men, signed up. but inactive, in the
Army Medical Reserve Corps. The Wom-
ems Nursing Corps numbered less than
400. Bed capacity in Army hospitals,
not including limited facilities at Army
posts. numbered 3,S43. Including post
hospital facilities, the bed capacity
reached, approximately, 5000.
A year later, when America is enter
ing the second year of the great war,
the total strength of the corps is far
more than 100, 900, including the enlist =
resent the regular service, with reserve
corps officers numbering more than
$4,000, of which total all but about 5000
are on active duty. The Army Medical
Nurse Corps now includes more than
1000 graduate nurses.
Completed Army hospitals in this
country today have a bed capacity OF
nearly $4,000. while extensions which
VIII bring that figure up to $4,000 are
under way. An additional increase of
10000 beds is contemplated, which will
make the bed accommodations reach
the 100000 mark.
The accomplishments of those twelve
months between the two sets of figures
made one of the most important chap
ters in the history of American partici-
patton in the world struggle for democ-
racy. Men gathered from every walk
of life may, in a relatively brief time,
under competent instructors, be drilled
into efficient soldiers. But to esta ablish
medical corps of sufficient magnitude
TO care for the vast Army building
necessitated erecting an establishment
OF the finest medical timber the country
had to offer-not green medicos but
men whose word in their respective
fields of medical endeavor would carry
the weight of conviction. 1t meant
bringing under a single roof in every
camp where American soldiers were
training, specialists in every line of
medical work. and of providing such
equipment and appliances as would per-
NIT of the highest type of service being
rendered.
The establishment and euuipping of a
base hospital at each of the National
Army and National Guard training
camps. many of them inaccessible from
the standpoint of transportation is per-
maps the greatest single feat under
taken and successfully accomplished by
the Army Medical Corps. Yet TODAY a
visitor at base hospital, none of which
mas been in operation more than a few
months. and all of which are hundreds
OF beds larger than the average civil
nospltal. hnds a thoroughly system
atlzeo organization, running with the
precision and Quietness of a city insti-
tuition of long standing.
Up to April, 1917, there were but seven
army hospitals. aside from post hospi-
Ials' Ioday there are sixty-three.
Iwenty-nine are equipped to care for
more than 1000 patients each; seven
teen VIII, when extensions now under
way are completed, be capable of ac-
cornmodating 1000 patients each. Three
of the hospitals are located at ports
from which troops embark for France.
TWO are permanent base hospitals three
are at camps where specialized training
Is Is carried on; twenty-three are general
hospitals and thirty-two are base hos
pitals for the National Army and Ma
tional Guard camps
This equipment represents only those
hospitals in the United States. In ad-
dition, it was necessary to build and
equip In France facilities for caring
for our sick and wounded over there.
From the Office of the surgeon general
in Washington had to be built I'D a
machine which would function eff
ficiently on the other side of the ocean
and insure to American troops abroad
the same skilled medical attention they
would receive at home hospitals, De-
tails of this work have not been made
public, but it is known that sccom-
modations and equipment abroad,
building ana TO be built, Will be suf-
fcient to care for perhaps 25 per cent
of our total troops abroad.
A year ago the Army Medical Corps
was represented at Washington by six
officers, including Surgeon General
Gorgas and twenty clerks who oc-
cupied three rooms in a corner of the
State, War and Navy building On De-
cember ! last 1876 officers were detail
ed here, 535 clerks were employed and
300 office rooms required to house the
corps. Five whole buildings are now
occupied and parts of two others, while
an additional two will probably be
needed in the near future. six thousan nd
kilograms and 5000 other communica-
tiOns have been received and acted
upon in a single day.
At every base hospital are specialists
in all fields of medical science which
may be called upon in the proper care
of our soldiers. The personnel in
fact, of these hospitals is. smaller
medical corps, such as is under the
surgeon general in Washington in an
executive capacity. At the head of the
hospital is the surgeon in charge and
under him one or more specialists in
orthopedics, neurology. eye. ear, nose,
throa and brain work, X-ray special
lists, etc.
Nor was the STAFF of each hospital
chosen without due regard for the abil-
tiles of each and every man. The sur
gical staff. for example, were appointed
after consultation of William ]. and
Charles H. Mayo. the famous surgeons
of Rochester. Mimi; Arthur d. Bevin of
t~n 80 he