The Washington times., 1921-07-03
]. S. HEALTH OFFICE
STARTED WORK AS
TREASURY BRANCH
Government Doctors Were
Placed on scretary's Pay
roll 123 Years Ago.

Recent msgasine comment spconng
scrambled into an omelet Of dfstorated
bureaus. witnessed the strange order
of things which should put at the
head of the Public Health Service
the national hospital---a man supposed
70 be primarily the government
cashier. to wit. the Secretary OF the
Treasury. tse
But after passing the laugh over
the incongruity OF IT all. no mention
was made OF the reason the nations
cashier originally became the boss
physician.
MERE's WHY 1T Is.
The Public Health Service started
life as the old Marine Hospital serv-
ice. frst authorised by Congress by
an act approved I2s years ago. Un-
der this act the President was au-
thorized TO nominate and appoint
medical officers at such points and
places In the country as might be re-
quired to furnish medical care TO
sick and 'disab bled seamen OF the
American merchant marine, either In
hospitals maintained by the United
States or by contract with civilian
institutions.
The funds for these hospitals was
obtained by imposing tax OF twenty
cents a month on seamen emplyed on
American vesseis engaged in foreign
and coastwfse trade.
And now the catch
The levy was collected by the col
Iectors of customs. Thus did the
Treasury Department, which collected
the operating cash, get its hands on
the handle-bars of the Public Health
Service.
From that date to the present time
the Treasury has continued to keep
its dollar bright eye on the workings
Of the Public Health Service.
To many people the service IL be-
lieved to be a bunch of doctors who
do research work and get out lot
OF bulletins telling people not to be
indiscreet" The average traveller will
recall that "they paste their posters
and bulletins in railroad stations and
cars and tell you to write the Treas
ury Department for further informa-
ton" Not many months ago these
bulletins were just SO many more
millions OF spots for the ubiquitous
signature of william G. McAdoo. ad
vertiser de luxe.
But this contact with the general
public Is but one feeble scratch OF
'r~ work conducted by the Public
Health Service. Briefly It's Jurisdic-
tion over this country's health ex-
tends from the publication of polluted
oysters to the control OF the com
mon brand OF measiey measles
During 1920 this organization of
almost 10000 workers distributed al
most 5000 900 bulletins and pamph-
lets aimed at the improvement OF
the national health. One small item
on it's program during that period
was the examination of more than
1 900 900 applicants for War Risk In
surance. Magnitude OF the opera
tions conducted by the Service may
be more fully realized when II is
mentioned that appropriations for the
1920 fiscal year were nearly $25.ooo,-
OOO ~
HEALTH SERVICE PERSONNEL
The Public Health Service is under
the direct supervision Of the Surgeon
General, whose acts are subject to
the approval OF the Secretary of the
Treasury. The Surgeon General sd-
ministers the affairs OF the bureau,
with the aid of an executive officer.
through seven administrative divi-
sions-Marine Hospitals and Relief.
Domestic Quarantine. Foreign and
Insuiar fsrcpnnSl
Accounts, Sanitary Reports and Sta
tistics. Scientific Research and We
neral Diseases.
In 1919. the Public Health Service
was authorized to furnish additional
hospital facilities to patients of the
Bureau OF War Risk Insurance. At
that time the service operated hos
pitais with a capacity of approx
mately 1900 beds. At the present
time the service had in operation six
ty-one hospitals with a bed capacity
of approximately $4,000 beds, and will.
In the near future open additional
hospitals with a capacity Of approx
mately 5000 beds. In these hospitals
the service is now caring for over
5000 patients. In all. the Public
Health Service has mp to May, 1891.
cared for in hospitals approximately
200, 900 patients of the Bureau OF War
Risk Insurance, in addition to its
other benenciaries- II has made 1,o7o,-
900 examinations of applicants for
compensation under the War Risk
Insurance Act. and has furnished In
its dispensaries 1.3so, 900 treatments to