Sanitiltion.-- In 1868, the first year of Meiji, a naval and military department was estab lished in the imperial government, and in Octo ber, the same year, a soldiers' provisionary hospital was founded in Tokio. This forms the beginning of the hospital system of the Japanese army. In February 1870 another military hos pital was established in Osaka. At the time military surgeons were engaged in the treatment of patients as well as in teaching subordinate physicians. These hospitals gave medicine not only to soldiers, but to the general public_ In 1871 a Bureau of Naval and Military Surgeons was organized in the War Office, and was ordered to control all affairs relating to med icine for the army in the whole empire. At the same time regulations relating to the organ ization of military hospitals were published. The bureau of surgeons, above mentioned, was placed under the direction of a surgeon of the rank of major-general. In those days surgeons were appointed by periodical examination from among ordinary physicians.
In 1872 military hospitals were established at each military station. The organization of the hygienic administration in the army under went various modifications afterward. The present regulations of military hospitals were promulgated in February 1898.
According to the present system, military hospitals exist at all places where is stationed a military garrison. These hospitals not only give medical treatment to soldiers, but engage in storing and supplying medicines and medical in struments and in teaching non-commissioned officers and men of the hygienic department. According to their size and importance. the
hospitals are divided into five classes. These hospitals are so constructed as to be able to take in as patients about 3.5 per cent of the total troops stationed at the place where the hospital exists.
The personnel of the hospital includes a di rector, surgeons, pharmaceutists, accountants, chief nurse, and nurses. The director of a tary hospital is appointed from among surgeons of the rank of captain to colonel, inclusive. He is controlled by the chief surgeon of the divi sion to which he belongs in the execution of his medical duties.
Veterinary 'Department.—At the beginning of the modern Japanese Army, veterinary af fairs were conducted by the Bureau of Sur geons, and a regulation for providing cavalry, artillery, and other corps requiring horses, with veterinaries, was enacted. At the time veteri naries were draftetd from the general public. In 1873, an independent department of veterina ries was established, and the rank of veterinary officers fixed. In the following year, non-com missioned officers and men of the veterinary department were appointed. At first these non commissioned officers and men were taken from graduates from the military veterinary school. But subsequently this school was ordered to de vote itself to the supply of officers, and men of lower ranks were taken from among conscripts. At present this school gives training to horse shoe-makers. The course in the school for offi cers is about five months, that for non-commis sioned officers three months, and that for candi dates for non-commissioned officers nine months.