Relations of the war to medical science : the annual address delivered before the Westchester Co. (N.Y.) Medical Society, June 16th, 1863 / by J. Foster Jenkins.

  • Jenkins, J. Foster (John Foster), 1826-1882.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Relations of the war to medical science : the annual address delivered before the Westchester Co. (N.Y.) Medical Society, June 16th, 1863 / by J. Foster Jenkins. 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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    Medical Inspectors, ranking as lieutenant-colonels, and pro- vided that these officers—as well as the Surgeon-General, who ranks as a brigadier-general—should be hereafter selected for merit and eminent qualification from the whole number of medical officers in service, whether of the regular or volunteer army. T'ais is the first instance, so far as I am aware, in which legislation inspired the ambition of members of the medical staff, by associating their efficiency with the rewards of a laudable ambition. The assistant surgeon, ranking as lieu- tenant, could heretofore only expect to attain a captain's rank at the end of five years. Five to seven years more found him enjoying a surgeoncy, with a major's dignity, and there he felt that he must abide during his whole army life, for few men could rationally dream of surviving to a septuage- narian enjoyment of the only colonelcy, when he should be- come the senior surgeon and so Surgeon-General. A striking illustration of what was to be expected from the new law was given nine days later, when the President commissioned Assistant Surgeon William A. Hammond to be Surgeon-General of the army. It is well known, I believe, that the Sanitary Commission urged this appointment, but not on personal grounds, for only one of its members had ever seen him when their decision was reached that this would be the best appointment possible. But they presented his claims to the President and Cabinet, from his well-known devotion to science, his energy and executive ability, his com- prehensive view of the great questions sure to arise in the administration of his office, and his evident readiness to meet boldly great responsibilities. His administration has justified the selection. He has introduced liberality and promptness