APPENDIX I 471 



has been increased from 1,000 to 1,740, and on this date it is 

 caring for 782 beneficiaries of the Veterans' Bureau. 



UNITED STATES NAVY 



With our entrance into the world war the Bureau of Medicine 

 and Surgery of the Department of the U. S. Navy early recog- 

 nized the fact that there would be an increased number of tuber- 

 culous patients and took steps to enlarge its tuberculosis hospital 

 at Fort Lyon, Colo., equipping it with the most modern type of 

 x-ray apparatus, heliotherapy facilities, etc. 



On October 3, 1921, this hospital was transferred by executive 

 order to the Veterans' Bureau, which was obligated to care for 

 the discharged personnel of the Government Services, the Navy 

 having decided, as a result of its experience, that it was not 

 economical to continue men in the service after they had developed 

 tuberculosis. Before the War Risk Act of 1917, the Navy was 

 under obligations to care for those who developed tuberculosis, 

 and this was the more imperative because private and state sana- 

 toria were disinclined to care for cases which had been discharged 

 from the Navy. 



Confronted with a large increase in personnel during the 

 world war, the Navy Department fully realized the importance 

 of eliminating at the recruiting office those men who were suffer- 

 ing with tuberculosis. Every endeavor was made to eliminate by 

 physical examination at training stations cases that had escaped 

 detection at the earlier examination. At the training stations 

 latent cases also were detected as well as those which lighted up 

 after strenuous training. Inasmuch as such men had already 

 been enlisted, the navy accepted the obligation of caring for 

 them and transferred them to the Naval Hospital at Fort Lyon. 



Briefly, the following is the scheme which has been adopted 

 by the Navy Department for the prevention and treatment of 

 tuberculosis : 



1. Elimination of the infected or predisposed individual at the recruiting 

 office. 



2. The holding of all recruits for a definite period, usually six months, for 

 medical observation during training period before being sent to sea. 



3. Physical examination of all men before being transferred and upon re- 

 enlistment. 



