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(continued from, page 33) in vogue today, consisting of practical and theoretical instruction in:
Nursing procedures.
Anatomy and physiology.
Bandaging.
First aid.
Elementary hygiene.
Clerical procedures.
Litter drill.
It was during the period that Surg. Gen. P.M. Rixey was Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery that the Hospital Corps School was established and enlarged. In command of the USNH, Norfolk, was Medical Director (Capt.) R.C. Persons. Passes Assistant Surgeon j(Lt. (jg)) was the supervisor of the school, assisted by Pharmacist Edward may and Hospital Steward J.A. Winterbottom. There were 28 students who received certificates of graduation on 15 December 1902.
Dixon has unearthed a considerable number of contemporary news items and official reports which indicate that successful completion of the Hospital Corps basic course was cause for extensive “commencement” exercise. Typical of the gala affairs is the one celebrated by Class No. 8 which graduated at Norfolk on 29 April 1905.
This class of 5 hospital steward, 4 hospital apprentices, first class, and 11 hospital apprentices. Their diplomas were presented to them by Medical Inspector Will R. DuBose, then Assistant to the Surgeon General. Dr. DuBose,. In addressing the class said:
“With your clean hands, see to it that you have clean thoughts and lead clean lives. Thus you will secure the confidence and respect of your associates and of the officers over you. Make the sick bay of the vessel to which you are attached a model of neatness and cleanness, and the good name of the Hospital Corps a matter of personal pride.”
It is a matter of record, that hospital corpsmen, past and present, have followed this advice.
Coincident with the graduation of Class No. 20, on 1 February 1911, the school of instruction was discontinued. There was no basic course given until 1914, but during this 3-year interval some outstanding men were given advanced instruction in laboratory technic at the Naval Medical School, Washington, D.C.
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Last updated November 21, 2008
