COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL RESEARCH II9 



was a frequent subject of comment by returning medical oflScers and CMR 

 missions from all theaters. Even in the life of portable surgical hospitals 

 there are lulls in activity when news of the progress of medical research is 

 of interest and value. It is always of interest in more stable installations. 

 The earlier publication and wider distribution of the CMR weekly bulletin 

 would have gone some distance towards filling this vacuum. Co-operation 

 from the Services would have been required but should have been forth- 

 coming. The Navy asked and received permission to republish extracts from 

 the bulletin in its admirable BuMed News Letter. 



The formation and assignment of CMR was a novel experiment in 

 American medicine. Planned and co-ordinated medical research had never 

 been essayed on such a scale and, at its inception, there were the gravest 

 doubts that it could be successfully executed. Fortunately, the experiment 

 was a success; it was effective in meeting the needs posed by war. 



This chapter has concerned itself with the mechanisms of CMR adminis- 

 tration. As was the case throughout OSRD, the strength of the organization 

 lay in the integrity and disinterestedness of the individuals who directed 

 and participated in it. Such administrative difficulties as were encountered 

 by CMR came upon it from without. For the most part they applied 

 throughout the OSRD organization; they are discussed at considerable 

 length in later chapters. 



