304 



After the long-continued and arduous efforts of the medical officers, 

 the executive became assured of the injustice of their position, and 

 by a general order issued August, 1846, they were assimilated in 

 rank with medium classes of their military brethren ; and certainly 

 not placed in a higher comparative position than the profession of 

 medicine can justly claim. The "order" merely defines position 

 and confers no military authority. Opposition has, however, been 

 made to this arrangement by a portion of the line, and at its insti- 

 gation, an inquiry instituted upon the floor of Congress, with the 

 view, it is believed, to an attempt to revoke the position assigned 

 medical officers in the navy. 



Such is the existing state of interests, which we feel it our duty, 

 through the medium of this Association, to bring to the notice of 

 the profession of which we form a small and isolated portion. 



mi. MAXWELL WOOD, Surg. U. S. N, 

 NINIAN PINKNEY, Surg. U. S. N, 



Delegates to the Nat. Med. Association, from the Naval Med. Corps. 



