The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-01-09
WATCH ON
SEAMEN'S HEALTH
ncle Sam Will Take Good Care
of His Merchant
Crews.
SEAMAN'S BOTTLE IS LATEST
Contains Passports to Good Health by
Providing Free Hospital Treat
ment Any~here--Days of the
Dogs Life Now History.

Misunderstanding Sam is getting
more watchful of the health of his
merchant crews as the great American
peace-time fleet continues to grow.
The latest innovation of the United
States shipping board i'm the "seaman's
bottle" which has now become one of
the cherished possessions of hundreds
of American 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 filled out 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-
tant port in the United States. On
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-
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 DIR.
Louis w. 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 go ashore to the nearest
federal official.
Free Hospital Care.
The label which bears the imprint of
the boards recruiting service informs
the seafarer that he is entitled to free
hospital care no matter what his sta
tion aboard ship. The term "seamen,"
1t says, means not only the men who
are employed on deck but persons EN-
ployed on board in the care, preserva-
tion or navigation Of the ship, and II
even includes those who are i'm the
service, on board, of those engaged in
such care. preservation or navigation.
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 IL i'm 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 "seaman's bottle" not bnly 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 1t clean.
Years ago, in the days of the clipper
ship, and even since that time, the sick
or disabled American sailor at sea or
in foreign port had no resource but
the charity of his captain or ship
mates. Old-time shippers generally
prescribed and supplied blue pill and
the crews were not burdened with
funds to lend.
Narrowing tales have been told of
those dark days of the merchant ma
rine. Of men forced to lie for weeks
in cramped. foul-smelling forecastles,
often beset by rats and without proper
food, light, air or clothing.
IL the man lived until the ship
reached port some sort of care might
be provided for him, but hundreds
died, were buried at sea; their togs
were sold and they were soon forgot
ten.
Must Carry Medicines.
But the days when the life of a sail
or was 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-
cines suitable for the treatment of
common ailments and injuries. Fail
ure to comply with this law subjects
the master or owners of the vessel to
q heavy fine.
Scurvy, that scourge of the old days,
has practically disappeared from the
American mercantile marine because
Of the liberal suil lies Of lime or lemon
juice, sugar and vinegar that are now
required to be carried on every ship
on a long voyage and to be given daily
to the 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 bill
of fare. This food, consigned to the
vessel In barrels, was generally slowed
below as ballast and sometimes re-
mained there for long time before
being reQuisitioned for the crew. This
diet, with the lack Of fresh vegetables,