The Book of Instructions for Medical Officers of the United States Navy during this period provides much information regarding the state of navy hospitals during the 1890’s. A section of the book includes the responsibilities of the medical officer in charge of a hospital, and listed as:
(a) the care and treatment of the sick;
(b) discipline and cleanliness;
(c) the economy of the institution;
(d) proper obedience to his orders and to the laws and regulations of the Navy;
(e) the inspection of all medicine, provisions, supplies, etc.;
(f) the records of all inspections;
(g) the daily assignment of an "officer of the day";
(h) the weekly examination of case papers for careful preparation and accuracy; and
(i) the maintenance and repair of the hospital buildings and care of the grounds, with the assurance that no changes be made (including the removal of trees or the disturbance of the soil around them) without permission of the Bureau.
When practicable, diet tables for patients were followed, but the allowances to attendants' messes were varied at the discretion of the medical officer in charge, provided, the value of the ration not be exceeded. The diet list included here was taken from the 1893 Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to the Secretary of the Navy.
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Last updated November 22, 2008
