The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-03
Uncle Sam win Take Good Care
Of His Merchant
Crews.
sEAhAN,s BOTTLE IS LATEST
Contains Passports to Coed Health BY
Pro, iding Free Hospital Treat
mcnt Anywhere-Days OF tho
Docs Life Now History.

merchant crews as Tic ~ CoI ~ $1,000
peace-filne fleet continues to grow.
The E.test innovation OF the United
States shipping board in the "s'saman's
i,ottle" which has now become one OF
the ch ,rishet possessions of hundreds
of Am arican seamen.
This little glass bottle, small enough
to be carried in the vest pocket, con-
tains passports to good health-print-
ed forms which, when filed ont by
ships captain, will gain admittance for
the holder TO any United States ma
rine hospital or relief station of the
public health service in every impor-
,ant DIRT in the United States. On a
foreign voyage the application will pro-
vide the seaman with the best medical
care, free Of charge, on application to
the United States consular officer.
At present the bottle is being pro.
yided only for men who have been
trained for sea career by the recruit
ing service Of the shipping board, but
In the opinion Of Surgeon General
Blue every American seaman should
have one.
1t is in port that the new "seaman's
bottle" which was originated by Or.
Louis ". ,Croke, medical director of
the shipping board recruiting service.
plays its chief part. A seaman in need
of medical attention has merely to dig
the bottle Out of his kit, bring the
printed form to his skipper to be filed
out and then 60 ashore 70 the nearest
fedora: official.
Free Hospital Care. .~
The label which bears the imprint of
the boards recruiting service informs
the seHfarer that he is entitled to free
hospital care no matter what his sta
ton aboard ship. The term "scamen,"
1t say:, means not only the men who
are employed On deck but persons en-
ployed on board in the care, preserva-
ton or navigation Of the ship, and 1t
even includes those who are in the
service, on board, Of those engaged in
such care, preservation or navigation.
p. When discharged by, the, medical au.
thorities the American seaman, is
given free passage TO-, the port from
Which he originally signed, unless the
articles provide for discharge else
where, or if in foreign port to some
port in the United States. He must
serve on board the ship on WHICH his
passage has been arranged il possible.
The, "seamants bottle" not only Will
impress upon Americans who are going
to sea the privileges to which they are
entitled as seamen of the United
States but will preserve the certificate
and keep it clean. ..., .,..,, ~ 5..-
, Years ago, in the days of the clipper
ship. and even since that time, the sick
or disabled American sailor ut sea or
in foreign port had no resource but
the charity of his captain or ship
mates. OItl-time shippers generally
prescribed and supplied blue pill and
the crews were not burdened with
funds to lend. ts
Narrowing tales have been told of
those dark days of the merchant ma.
rlne, of men forced to lie for weeks
IN cramped, foul-slhelling forecastles,
often beset by rats and without proper
food, light, all, or clothing. 80, !,
If the man lived until tue ship
reached port some sort of care might
be provided for him, but hundreds
died, were buried Mt sea- their togs
were sold and they were soon forgot.
ten. .s.r .fa, ... r..s,,+ 80
@a, Must Carry Medicines.
But the days when the life OF a sail.
or'"as a dogs life at best are now his.
tory. Every vessel flying the Ameri.
can flag and engaged on long voyages
IS required to carry a chest of medi.
ci1ss suitable for the treatment OF
coIrlnon ailments and injuries. Fail.
IRE to comply with this law subiects
tho master or owners of the vessel ia
keavy fine.
scurvy, that scOurge of the old DAYS
mas practically disappeared from the
American mercantile imagine because
OF the liberal supplies Of lime or lemon
juice, sugar and vinegar that are now
required to be carried on every shin
on long voyage and to be given daily
70 me crew within ten days after salt
provisions have been chiefly served to
them. In the days of yore "salt Junk"
was the main item on every foc'sle bin
OF fare. This food, consigned to the
vessel in barrels, was generally slowed
Deiow as ballast and sometimes re-
NAMED there for long time before
oeins requisitioned for the crew, This
diet, with the lack Of fresh vegetables
caused scuryy.
Adequate hospital facilities aboard
snip also are provided. The law re
CURES that in addition to the space nj.
iotted for lodgings which must be
roomy and Well ventilated, all mer.
chant vessels Of the United Statea
! winch ordinarily make VOYAGES al
more than three days duration he.
tween ports and which carry more
than twelve searaen, shall have a suit
able hospital compartment with -,
!east one comfortable bunk for ever,
twelve seamen aboard.
Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Nor
mand and Ford Sterling will s,,ro