The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-30
FLIGHT SURGEONS
A NEW WAR TYPE
Ingenious Methods Devised
to Test Endurance of
AviatOrS
NEW OFFICER MAKES
LIFE IN AIR SAFER

Aid Injured Airmen-Interesting In
terview with Washington Official in
Medical Air Service.
WASHINGTON, Sept 3O.-Flght sur
geons represent a new war type which
appeals to the Imagination as does no
other kind of medical man. Up to this
time not much has been told about them.
The evolution of the army medical Off
Ger to the flight surgeon has been rapid
II is only a short time ago that the
term was first heard, but already IA
special flying machine has been devised
for the flight surgeon-a flying ambu
lance-so he may aid injured airmen.
What are the duties of the flight sur
gcong What, based on the now swiftly
accommodating experiences of Americans
in the air, are the latest needs of our
ayiators, to keep them in fighting trim
TO restore them to efficiency from an
ailment developed by their new environ
mcnty How is the flying ambulance put
to usey
One of the officers in Washington best
qualified to answer these questions is
Brig. Gen. T. c. Lyster, who, among
other duties is chief of the air service
division of the surgeon generals Office,
United States army. He answered some
questions the other day about the work
1t has been found necessary to super
wise the fler much more closely than the
man on the ground" he said pilots
| after flying high in the air, develop a
! form of exhaustion due chiefly to being
| | in an atmosphere containing too littl,
/ oxygen. On the front in France it ha.
/ been common thing to see pilots VIII,
! had returned from prolonged high fly
4 ing over the top thus affected, but the,
81 themselves did not realize their condi
- ton. and that is a peculiar part of thi
aiIliction. With difficulty the pilot woul,
1 be able to get out Of his car and woul,
| then stagger about, not knowing tina
I he was staggering.
From the first we were able to re
( licye the pilot so affected by giving hir
! oxygen. but now we can prevent it
| happening to the pilot while in the ain
! though at this time ! do not think
| wise To give further details
! we now have one or more flight sur
| geons at the aviation training camps j
4
/ medical officers have previously receive
special course in their new duties undo
the direction of the medical researc
= board, air service division of the surgeo
! generals office. and are not sent to the
| posts to do any general medical worl
| but to give their exclusive attention I
| the hiers Each flight surgeon has d.
! tailed to assist him physical directo
| and the two look after every detail
| the lier's life while at field
- While the flying is going on il is Il
- duty of the flight surgeon to keep in d
rect touch with the ayiators. With 4
flight commander he observes the m,
= while in the air, and on their return
w the hangar an examination is made
Is, determine whether the ficr shall 90
next day or on what succeeding da
an II there is any doubt day or two
r rest is recommended for the cadet.
the case is not mild one it is mo
an. thoroughly studied before verdict
&c, given.
81 is it expected that the flight 81
mi geonS will themselves learn how to fly
General .Lyster was asked.
nd "WhiIe it is not desired to ma
nee flight surgeons pilots to the neglect
their duties" he answered, sit is desir
an that they So qualify whenever pos
M. bic. This position is warmly support
zen by Major Gen. Kenly, director of mi
- tary aeronautics. and a flight surge
ark will receive his wings when qualified
n. flight, surgeon who has not flown cam
m get the viewpoint Of the flying cad
IN nor does the cadet have the same &C
. iidcnce in the Judgment of such an ofIic
tie. The medical officer who has flown 1
= only appreciates the strain incident
~; ;nu the life Of the pilot, but also apprecia
by the atmospheric conditions, the resulta
ngs exhaustion at high attitudes, and I
. mental tension after prolonged fligll
oye 1t would seem to me that flight s.
W gcon should at least qualify TO land
49,. machine at any time.
w. Major William r. Ream the Fl
R =, medical officer qualified to receive win
and one to whom the medical air serv
1rs: Is greatly indebted for his able and
". thusiastic interest. has just lost his
ian, in crash in the performance of his dr
2 to as flight surgeon. The service has
most valuable man. and had he If
Bar he would have done much toward max