Evening star., 1945-10-28
Army Medical Library
PLAYED Vital War Role
By Betty Wixcey.


From the beginning of World War II
one OF the Arnly's greatest problems has
been keeping overseas medical officers
up to date on the latest methods for
battling death and disease. Journals,
books, even separate articles are too
bulky to send by airmail and If other
means OF transportation were used, it
would mean delays of one to six months
in getting the information to the Army
doctors. By then, at the rate science is
progressing, much of the information
could well be obsolete The medical
library met this challenge with micro
film.
First. to give Army doctors an idea
OF what is going on, weekly list Of
current medical literature is sent to all
base hospitals at home and abroad The
list includes everything printed in more
than 5000 journals covering every sub
ject from psychology to veterinary
medicine. A number of doctors in priv.
ate practice also subscribe to it.
High-Speed Service
After looking over the list, servicemen
and civilians can order free microfilm
copies of as many as Is articles at one
time. Army medical officers overseas
are cared for first. Their references
are on the way by airmail or, If the
orders are short. on V-mail within two
days. Next Army personnel stationed
in this country and, finally, civilians are
supplied. All orders are filled within q
week. More than 5000 orders of this
type are handled every month.
In addition to this service, the library's
photo duplication section supplies 80 diff
ferent overseas installations with more
complete library of current medical lit.
ererature than most of the men sta
toned there could have dreamed of hav-
ing at their disposal in civilian life. All
the contents Of IS standard American
medical journals are sent to these bases
reduced to four compact rolls of micro
film. Each roll holds from IL to II
journals. A roll weighs only about
ounces. Some of the journals included
are weekly, some monthly, some quar-
terly, but all are filmed and sent out
Immediately upon publication.
Last year Cosby Brinkley, head of the
photo duplication section, received
joint letter from four Army medical
officers in Pacific combat theater say
ing that this microfilm was their only
means of keeping in contact with recent
developments in medicine.
The library extends its service to the
Allied nations as well as to our armed
forces and private research workers.
All American medical literature for
China goes by diplomatic pouch from
the Army Medical Library's microflm.
ing service. A Chinese government ON
cial working in remote mountainous
district outside the city of Chengtu
wrote that he reads the films with q
candle for projection light.
During the war the Surgeon Generals
office sent unpublished information
about techniques in the use of penicillin,
sulfa and other new drugs to Army in
stallations all over the world through
the medical hbrary's firm service.
How Service Has Grown
In the last five years the filming ac-
tivities OF the library have grown from
single camera in the corner of q room
to five microfilm cameras and a photo
print camera The original purpose for
the Aim was to duplicate valuable rec
ords. Almost two million Photographic
duplicates are now stored away for
safekeeping In case any Of the originals
are lost Of destroyed.
Only 80 per cent of the microflm
service was used by military personnel
at the beginning Of the war. Now IS
per cent Of the film goes overseas. Last
year 4.500.000 pages we're reduced to
$4,000 feet of film-enough microfilnn
to reach from Washington to Baltimore
and back.
IniS tremendous amount OF rlmng is
done by staff of eight civilians, five
me, and three women, under Mr.. Brink
ley. Although the amount of work has
been increased 800 per cent since 1912,
the personnel Of the photo duplicating
section has not increased.