GIFT OF 1917 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1917 -IB* A /C OF T f i Ii (I UNIVERSITY \ o OP r j? r> B ?J.S. "BLL o THE HOSPITAL CORPS OF THE NAVY 1917 A AT 19)7 *;"' i -/L.J r . ; ytf , ' ^AA*jt*A FIRST-AID DRILL. hospitals, naval shore stations, on board ships, and upon expeditions of the Marine Corps. The service is not attended by particularly arduous duties and fits the members of the corps for future work in connection with their profession within and without the naval service. (5) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. The work and duty of the Hospital Corps is of a distinct character peculiar to itself. No calling in civil life is similar to it, and there- fore men must be trained for the work through the medium of actual experience in performing this duty. The duty is not along any one line but is a combination of lines, the arrangement varying with the circumstances. It is therefore plain that enlistment of men as pharmacist, drug clerk, druggist, embalmer, etc., as such can not be practicable ; yet persons having such an education or experience are given most favorable consideration when applying for enlistment. Such men will find their previous training and experience of greatest value in performance of duty or when seeking advancement and Hospital Cor* s Training School CLASS IN SESSION. from time to time an opportunity to put their knowledge or ability to use. Referring to the duties in brief, hospital corpsmen act as nurses to the sick, administer first-aid to accident cases, accompany expe- ditionary forces giving first-aid to injured and wounded, or such other first-aid treatment as may be indicated, assist at surgical opera- tions, care of the medical stores and property, and compound medi- cines as is done in a civil drug store. Some men take up and become proficient in chemistry, pharmacy, commissary work, X-ray, bacteriological work. Many of these men (6) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. in later years, as a result of their training and specialization, are able to and do accept positions in laboratories of manufacturing con- cerns and return to civil life, having satisfied their desire for travel, and at the same time have learned a trade and served their country. The work being of a more or less special type, it is necessary for the hospital corpsman to receive a preliminary course of instruc- tion prior to undertaking the work in general service. For this purpose three training schools for the Hospital Corps have been established, one on the Atlantic coast, one on the Pacific coast, and one on the Great Lakes, to one of which the newly enlisted man is detailed and where he remains for a period of about six months under Hospital Corps Training School. CLASS IN HISTOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, AND BACTERIOLOGY. instruction and is started upon his naval career on a sound basis and with a knowledge of and training in his special field and duty. While these courses are all elementary in character a sufficient amount of matter is gone over to give a sound basis upon which future study may be pursued. The course consists of instruction in the following subjects: Anatomy and physiology. In this course the student receives gen- eral instruction upon the structure of the human body and the func- tions of its organs and muscles and nerve tissues, affording sufficient knowledge about the human body to make possible intelligent under- standing of the care necessary in attending it when diseased. (7) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. General nursing, -first-aid, emergency surgery, operating room and surgical technic. In this course it is endeavored to give didacti- cally a theory of nursing of both surgical and medical cases, proper attendance upon the sick individual, his bed, his diet, etc., a clear presentation of antiseptics and asepsis, general cleanliness in relation to surgical procedures, how to assist an operator at a surgical opera- tion, the application of dressings to first-aid and accident cases, both in the hospital and in the field with an expeditionary force. Hygiene and sanitation, both general and field; diets, food, and the cooking and preparation of foods; the serving of foods to patients. In this course an elementary introduction to hygiene, hygienic meas- Hospilal Corps Traiiiif School ACCOUNTING OF MEDICAL STORES. ures, both in the hospital, on the station or ship, personal hygiene, how to protect against diseases, fumigation, the application of anti- septics, ventilation, etc., the proper selection of food for the sick, its preparation, cooking, and proper serving to sick people. Pharmacy, materia medica, chemistry, toxicology. In this course an elementary knowledge of pharmacy, with simple compounding of prescriptions, administration and proper doses of simple medicines, a knowledge of the poisonous drugs used in medicine and their physiological effects, elementary chemistry, and the performance of simple chemical tests and other matters along this line which come within the purview of the hospital corpsman. (8) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. A general introduction to the duties within a hospital, in a ward, and the sick bays, with relation to their proper ventilation, cleanli- ness, neatness, quietness, and appropriate care of persons confined therein. Hospital Corps Training School. RECREATION ROOM. Hospital Corps Training School. FIRST-AID WORK IN THE FIELD. To those who show aptitude and special qualifications, enthusiasm, and a desire to undertake particular duty, special courses in bac- teriology, chemistry, laboratory, blood examination, and special ex- (9) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. animations pertaining to medico-laboratory work are afforded, by means of which bright young men are able to avail themselves of an unusual opportunity for instruction along these lines. Upon first reporting at the training station where the school is established a recruit is assigned to the seaman brigade for about three weeks to receive instruction in the care of his clothing and effects and general duties which pertain to the military side of the work. Upon completion of this three weeks of instruction he is immediately detailed to the training school for the Hospital Corps, where provisions are made for the stowage of his effects, placing of his hammock for sleep at night, and obtaining his food. The school is under the immediate charge of a medical officer and his several Hospital Corps Training School. APPLICATION OF HEAD BANDAGE IN EMERGENCY. assistants, who are usually chief petty officers of the Hospital Corps, and every effort is made to bring about a feeling of contentment and satisfaction, enthusiasm for the work, kindly suggestion, and advice, with special reference not only to the professional work but to the advisability of the candidate continuing should his aptitude for this special branch appear not to be marked. In a few cases it has been found that a few men after reporting at the school show, either from a lack of preliminary education or from a distaste for this particular duty, an inaptitude for the Hospital Corps. The circumstances are kindly brought to the attention of the apprentice and an opportunity afforded him to change to another branch or leave the service. Every kindness and encouragement is (10) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. shown the apprentice, and every effort is put forth to make him feel at home. Upon completion of this course of training at the school the ap- prentice is detailed to one of the naval hospitals for a further period of practical instruction in actual performance of duty. In the hospitals the apprentice is afforded the actual experience in the practical application of the instructions he has received at the school in caring for, nursing and feeding of patients, caring for THE WORK IN DISTANT POSSESSIONS IS AN IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING FEATURE. the property of the medical department, preparation of surgical and other dressings, and attendance upon surgical operations. Those specially versed or who show particular aptitude are assigned to special detail, such as laboratory, X-ray, stenographers and re- corders, pharmaceutical work, etc. He remains at the hospital about six months, when he is then detailed to a sea-going ship, where he continues to perform a similar duty, using his knowledge which has The Hospital Corps of the Navy. been obtained under more favorable circumstances to meet the diffi- culties and unusualness of the work on board ship. When serving with the Marine Corps, members of the Hospital Corps are frequently assigned to expeditionary forces operating on foreign shores. In this work many unusual and interesting experi- ences are encountered and frequently unusual opportunities afforded. Many members of the Hospital Corps operating with these forces have been awarded medals and letters of commendation for the excel- lence of their work. Owing to the high character of the work required of the Hospital Corps and the future opportunities available to men of the corps, A SICK BAY (WARD) ON BOARD A BATTLESHIP. pains are taken to encourage men of highest qualifications to enter it. A fairly complete preliminary general education will be found not only desirable but also necessary, should the applicant desire con- tinuous advancement. Those who have such an education may advance themselves steadily to the highest rating. For those, how- ever, who are not so well versed every opportunity is afforded them to study and perfect themselves under the helpful guidance of medi- cal officers, with a view to their future advancement when qualified for the ratings they seek. The highest efficiency in the medical de- partment is dependent upon sufficient education and training, and (12) it (13) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. therefore every effort is bent toward such development, and the hospital corpsmen therefore have distinct advantages constantly before them for obtaining information and instruction in their profession. Enlistment. Men may present themselves for enlistment at any Navy recruiting station, navy yard, naval station, or on board naval vessels having a medical officer on board. They should state their desire to enlist in the Hospital Corps, giving their qualifications and OPERATING ROOM ON BOARD A BATTLESHIP. previous experience or training, if any. The medical officer will give them the usual required educational and professional examination and the applicant will be advised in the matter. Rates of Pay of Hospital Corpsmen. [Extracted from Navy pay tables.] Hospital apprentice, second class $20. 90 Hospital apprentice, first class 26. 40 Pharmacist's mate, third class 33.00 Pharmacist's mate, second class 38. 50 Pharmacist's mate, first class _* 44. 00 Chief pharmacist's mate (acting appointment) 66.00 Chief pharmacist's mate (permanent appointment) 77.00 (14) The Hospital Corps of the Navy. ALLOWANCES FOR REENLISTMENT. In order to obtain all the benefits of continuous service, a man must reenlist within four months after the date of his honorable discharge. He can reenlist the next day, or remain out of service for four months; but if he reenlists within four months he receives a bounty of four months' pay at the rate he was paid on discharge. Upon reenlistment his pay is increased by $1.50 for honorable discharge. In addition, and as a compensation for a trained man and regard- less of whether or not his service is continuous, his pay is increased by a further sum of $5.50 per month for the first reenlistment and by $3.30 per month for each subsequent reenlistment. Further, if he is recommended by his captain, he is awarded a good- conduct medal after the first reenlistment and a good-conduct bar on each subsequent reenlistment. The holder of a good-conduct medal, pin, or bar is entitled to 82 cents a month for each medal, pin, or bar he possesses for all his subsequent enlistments that are con- tinuous. These payments accumulate with each enlistment. Thus it will be seen that on second continuous enlistment the pay of any rating or branch of the service is increased by $7 per month ; on the third enlistment the pay is further increased by $5.62, and so on through his naval career. o (15) Y.C 105607 VG-32.0 A . UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY