Extracts from the reports of the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, for 1863 and 1864.

Date:
[1865?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extracts from the reports of the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, for 1863 and 1864. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT, DECEMBER, 1863. MEDICAL CORPS OF THE NAVY. In closing this report I deem it not only a grateful office, but a positive duty, to bear testimony to the faithful and efficient service of medical officers of the navy since the outbreak of the war. In consequence of their comparatively small number, their service has been more continuous than has fallen to the lot of mr st others, from the inability of the department to afford timely relief, or even much interchange of station. The war brought its trials and novelties to the medical officer, as to those of other grades, and it affords me the highest satisfaction to state, as I think I can do with entire truth, that as a body they have proved themselves equal to every emergency; indeed, it is remarkable that the long interval of peace in which most of them bad grown up found one and all so fully prepared for all the contingencies of battle. Not only have they served efficiently on ship- board, but the calls of the army, whenever made, have been promptly and cheerfully answered. Seven medical officers of the navy were despatched from the Western Gulf Scpiadron to the aid of the wounded after the attack on Baton Rouge by General Ranks. Assistant Surgeons llazleton and Luck were detached from the South Atlan- tic Blockading Squadron to assist the wounded of the army in the hospitals, Reaufort, S. C, after the attack on Charleston, S. C, by tieneral Gilmore. In the former instance the Surgeon (General of the army expressed his ac- knowledgments of the service rendered. During the year two young officers of promise, Assistant Surgeons J. If. Gotwold and Edward A. Pierson, were killed in battle, eleven were taken pris- oners by the enemy, seven have beeu exchanged, four are still retained, viz: Assistant Surgeon Luck and Acting Assistant Surgeons Shufy, Nestell, and ■Myers; the last named is in close confinement in Richmond The improved condition of the medical officers as established in the order of the Navy Department of March 13 1808, seems to be hardly adequate to the services they have rendered, or commensurate with the social standing of the profession. The results of the late wars of Europe have impressed upon its various gov- ernments the necessity of extending to medical officers the same honor and ad- vantages of rank which constitute so great an attraction and incentive to the military profession. Within a few years medical men have been elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral in the British navy, and Major General in the Rritish army, while liberal pensions, the Order of the Rath, and Knighthood, are bestowed in cases of distinguished merit. Medical officers ot the navy are at liberty to retire after a full-pay service of twenty-five rears, upon most liberal allowances, when ompared with line offi- cers; and in case of distinguished service they receive a step of honorary rank. The half pay of a Vice Admiral is £593. The retired pay of a Medical In- spector General varies from £5-17 to £684, the maximum being attached after thirty years' service.