As compared with land warfare, the number of men killed out right in action was striking, and this, combined with the number of deaths from immersion, made the ratio of killed to wounded far higher in the British Navy than in the Army. For instance, at Jutland, out of 6,688 casualties there were 6,014 either killed or drowned. The higher proportion of fatal wounds was due to the condition of modern naval warfare—explosion of large shells in closed compartments. In comparison with the wounds in the trenches, where the clothing and skin were ingrained with filth, wounds in the Navy were less disposed to become septic.
Medical Officers of the French Navy—instead of being selected from candidates qualified in the ordinary way, as is the practice in the British, Italian and Japanese navies—are professionally educated at special naval medical colleges, and subsequently hold purely professional titles of rank. Italian naval medical officers, in common with other non-executive officers of that navy, hold military, in contradistinction to naval rank. The medical organiza tion in the Japanese navy is almost identical with the British. The medical and dental officers are admitted to the corps after passing satisfactory examinations and as vacancies occur. Above the rank of lieutenant-commander, promotion is by selection and exam ination. (G. L. B.) United States.—In July 1928 the Medical Service of the U.S. navy consisted of : the Medical Corps; Dental Corps; Hospital Corps; and Nurse Corps (female). The Medical Corps was composed of 4 rear-admirals, 82 captains, 91 commanders, 268 lieutenant commanders, 218 lieutenants and 168 junior grade lieutenants. Medical officers appointed immediately following graduation are given one year's rotating internship, upon the completion of which they are subject to detail to posts of duty afloat or ashore. The Dental Corps consisted of 14 commanders, 68 lieutenant commanders, 66 lieutenants and 20 lieutenants (junior grade). Medical and dental officers are admitted to the corps after passing satisfactory examinations and as vacancies occur. Above the rank of lieutenant commander promotion to each grade is by selection and examination. Opportunity is given to officers of the Medical and Dental Corps to take "refresher" courses from time to time at the Naval Medical school, where problems concerning submarines, aviation and other aspects of navy life may be studied. Medical officers showing aptitude for specialties in medicine are given graduate instruction in their specialties at appropriate medical schools.
The health and hygiene of the navy personnel are entrusted to the medical and dental officers of the service. Fully equipped hos pital ships with an efficient personnel and skilled medical officers, including specialists, accompany all large fleets. The Medical Corps of the naval reserve force is composed of officers taken from civilian life and from ex-naval medical officers, appointed and promoted pursuant to law and in accordance with regulations. They may receive a certain amount of training each year and are subject to call in an emergency so declared by the president.
The Hospital Corps consists of chief pharmacists (commis sioned officers), pharmacists (warrant officers), chief pharmacist's mates, pharmacist's mates, first, second and third class (petty officers) and hospital apprentices (non-rated enlisted men). Va cancies are filled by promotion from lower ratings. Chief pharma cists and pharmacists are concerned largely with administration of naval hospitals and dispensaries. Many of these officers become expert chemists, accountants, X-ray technicians, etc. The en listed men are trained as male nurses, and several each year are given special instruction for qualification as technicians in the following branches : bacteriology, pathology, medical zoology, chemistry, X-ray, electrocardiography, dentistry, aviation medi cine and embalming.
The Nurse Corps (female) consists of the superintendent of the Nurse Corps (female), chief nurses and nurses. The members of the Nurse Corps are employed principally at naval hospitals, naval dispensaries and on board hospital ships.
The surgical instruments, dressings, medicines and laboratory equipment are supplied in great part from the navy medical sup ply depot in Brooklyn, N.Y., and from the medical supply depots in Mare island, Calif., and Canacao, P.I. Naval medical service is provided for officers and enlisted men, active or retired, afloat or ashore. Of the commissioned officers of the Medical Corps of the U.S. navy 3,093 served in the World War, together with 24,587 enlisted men in the Hospital Corps. The entire U.S. naval medical service is directed by the surgeon general of the U.S. navy, who is appointed by the president, from the Naval Medical Corps, for a term of four years, after which he may be reappointed. This duty carries with it the rank of rear-admiral, "upper nine," which corresponds to that of major-general, U.S.
army. (J. C. PR.)