5o6  A  Pharmacist  in  the  Navy.       { AmjJiy(r,I'pIh8fm" 
Of  course  the  above  orders  presumed  a  knowledge  of  the  prep- 
aration of  the  necessary  stains  as  well  as  a  knowledge  of  the  technique 
of  applying  them  and  the  ability  to  examine  the  finished  slide  under 
the  microscope. 
3.  "  Examine  this  specimen  of  urine  for  indican." 
4.  "  Examine  this  specimen  of  urine  chemically  for  sugar  and 
albumin  and  microscopically  for  casts,  and  report  findings." 
5.  "  Here  are  samples  of  drinking  water,  sixteen  of  them,  from 
the  various  tanks,  and  life  boats  on  board :  examine  them  and  de- 
termine whether  or  not  they  are  potable." 
I  was  called  out  at  eleven  o'clock  one  night  to  examine  a  spec- 
imen of  drinking  water  and  send  a  written  report  to  the  officer  (doc- 
tor) of  the  day.  He  of  course  transmitted  the  report  to  the  com- 
manding officer. 
6.  "  Make  a  tenth  normal  volumetric  solution  of  potassium  per- 
manganate." This  I  was  unable  to  do,  as  none  of  the  necessary 
standard  chemicals  for  volumetric  work  were  on  board  the  ship,  not 
even  a  standard  sodium  carbonate.  Then  the  doctor  wanted  the 
solution  immediately  and  it  requires  some  little  time  for  preparation 
when  made  according  to  the  ninth  revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharma- 
copoeia. 
Of  course  all  of  my  work  was  verified  by  the  doctor,  as  the  work 
of  an  enlisted  man  on  subjects  of  such  moment  and  involving  so 
much  scientific  knowledge  cannot  be  considered  authoritative. 
I  know  of  several  pharmacists  who  have  enlisted  in  the  Navy  and 
who  are  doing  good  work  in  anything  that  may  come  up  requiring 
their  professional  training. 
The  following  questions  now  arise: 
1.  Could  just  any  member  of  the  Hospital  Corps  have  carried  out 
such  orders?  Certainly  not.  No  doctor  in  the  Navy  would  ever 
expect  this. 
2.  Is  all  such  highly  necessary  work  as  this  always  carried  out 
when  it  presents  itself?  If  so  the  doctor  would  have  to  do  it  himself 
unless  he  could  find  some  one  of  the  hospital  corps  who  was  capable 
of  doing  it. 
I  do  not  wish  to  say  anything  reflecting  on  the  men  in  the  hos- 
pital corps  of  the  Navy.  They  are  a  fine,  good-working  bunch  of 
men  and  deserve  the  rates  they  hold. 
I  only  wish  to  suggest  that  a  man  who  can  do  the  work  required 
in  this  branch  of  the  Navy  and  has  also  had  years  of  both  practical 
