New-York tribune., 1919-05-04
Military Training rs Urged
TO ln1proue National Health
Army Medical Officer De clares Statistics Show Sol
ders Are Most Healthy Body of Men in the World
Treatments Outlined

BY c. Morgan Muren, M. D.
Lately Major, Medical Corps, United
States Army.
AS result of all the wars that the
world has known, including our own
war with Spain, large numbers of dis
charged soldiers returned to their
families and communities bearing with
them the most loathsome communica-
bic diseases. In many cases innocent
wives became infected, children came
into the world seriously handicapped
by disease and deformity, and because
of the lack of morals of many soldiers
and the people with whom they associ-
ated after their return their diseases
were spread TO large numbers of peo-
Pile.
In the wars before the last great one
little was done to educate the soldier
regarding the serious nature of these
aVoldable diseases; camp followers too
conveniently near camps, the compara-
lively unrestricted sale of alcohol to
soldiers and the absolute lack of anv
prophylactic regulations resulted in an
almost unbelievable number of infec-
tlons.
Rate 164 Per Thousand
The rate Of these diseases immedi
ately prior to the Spanish h-American
War was 80 per thousand. Between
1898 and 1900 the rate rose to 100 per
thousand. This latter rate persisted
until the prophylactic treatment was
introduced, about 1910. The rate ate
dropped from 164 per thousand in 1911
TO ll6 IN 1912, and in 1913 was SO per
thousand.
Since 1913 it has remained under 90
per thousand, except in 1916, when
among the troops serving on the Mex
lcan border it rose to ola
1t is of interest to note the apparent
dlHerence in the number of cases oc
curing in the permanent military es-
tapllsAment,, the National Guard, and
the National Army in the great war
In September, 1917, the ARMY had 80
the National Guard $50 and the Ma
tlonal Army 367 cases per thousand
1t must not be forgotten, in consider
ing the comparatively large numbers
OF cases IN the National Guard and the
National Army, that many of them
when discovered were not new. and vet
IN army records all cases when first
coming to the attention of the medical
department are recorded as new. and so
swell the total.
Prophylaxis Explained
Thus men who had acquired their
diseases some time before entering the
service greatly increased the ratio in
the branch in which they finally served
The low rate occurring prior to 1898
was probably due to the fact that our
dlagnostlc methods were not then as
advanced or as accurate as those of
to-day, and many cases were undoubt-
edly not detected and recorded. as
though infected, they were still able
to do duty.
A number of years before the late
war paragraph was added to army
regulations requiring Il soldier expos
ing himself to this form of infection
to report at the post hospital, or in
hrmary, within specified time for
prophylactlc treatment. Subsequently.
developing one of these diseases and
not having reported Tor prophylactic
treatment, he was tried by court mar
tai and punished, not for having con-
tracted the disease, but for disobeying
an order requiring him to protect him
self from it. The consensus Of opinion
oil all medical officers is that if this
prophylactic treatment is promptly
given, the percentage of infections is
practically nil.
Propaganda Lessened Disease
When this country entered the world
war the medical department of the
army did all that could be done to
save the soldier from these infections.
With the assistance of prominent civil
ian surgeons, experts in this line of
practice, an active propaganda was be-
gun. Large quantities Of carefully pre-
pared literature were distributed
among the men, frequent courses of in
structlon were given to them by their
own medical officers and special lect-
ures by qualified civilian specialists, at
all OF which attendance was compul-
sorry. Moving pictures, made exceed
ingly interesting and showing very
graphically the ravages Of these dis
eases, were frequently shown. The
piophyactic regulations were strictly
enforced
The regulations require that all men
shall be physically inspected twice each
month, more often during emergencies
If IN the opinion OF the surgeon, or
higher authority, this is necessary.
The inspection must be made by
medical officer with great attention to
special conditions. The feet are in
spected, as normal feet are a great
requisite of the soldier. Possible dis
eases Of the skin, mouth and throat
are to be consdered Lice and the dis
eases under discussion are looked for
with the greatest care.
In all camps there were established
special clinics for the treatment of
these cases. When possible medical
officers Of experience in this work were
placed in charge and the work done
was as good as the work done in civil
ian clinics and hospitals.
1t is undoubtedly true that the work
done by medical officers temporarily
in the army, in this, as in other
spccalties, was much better than could
be expected from the members Of the
permanent medical corps, as the
variety Of knowledge and work re-
quircd of the latter officers would class
them more truly as general practition-
crs.
The value to the service of the medi-
cal officers who in civil life devoted
their exclusive attention to these dis
eases cannot be overestimatcd. The
average medical oman with no. partic-
ular training in this speciality, and
with no great interest in the work
would never have obtained the results
that the careful, painstaking work Of
these men produced.
Excellent laboratory facilities were
] provided, careful microscopic work,
/ done by trained men, made the dag
noses conclusive in certain cases and
1 e