86 
Hospital  Corps  of  the  Navy. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
^   February,  19 19. 
THE  HOSPITAL  CORPS  OF  THE  NAVY. 
Naval  Officers  Tell  the  N.  P.  S.  A.  about  the  work  of 
the  Corps. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  National  Pharmaceutical  Service  Associa- 
tion held  in  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  on  Friday  even- 
ing, December  20,  Lieutenant  Commander  George  F.  Cottle,  Detail 
Officer  of  the  Hospital  Corps  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  Lieu- 
tenant W.  T.  Minnick,  Commandant  of  the  Hospital  Corps  unit, 
training  at  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  presented  a  com- 
prehensive and  interesting  account  of  the  work  of  the  organization 
in  the  war. 
In  the  absence  of  the  president,  Mr.  George  M.  Beringer,  Pro- 
fessor Charles  H.  LaWall,  vice-president,  presided.  The  president 
was  authorized  by  motion,  to  publish  as  a  part  of  the  minutes  of  this 
meeting  a  resume  of  the  work  of  the  Association  during  the  past  year 
and  a  half,  and  set  forth  the  need  of  continued  effort  by  the  As- 
sociation in  the  interest  of  recognition  of  professional  pharma- 
ceutical work  by  governmental  authorities. 
The  facts  presented  by  Lieutenant  Commander  Cottle  and  Lieu- 
tenant Minnick  will  prove  of  great  interest  to  the  pharmacists  of 
the  country,  since  they  show  the  important  place  which  pharmacy 
occupies  today  in  the  Navy,  and  the  recognition  which  it  has  secured 
for  itself  through  shear  merit. 
Up  to  1898  the  "  apothecary  "  of  the  Navy  was  an  appointee  of 
the  medical  officer  under  whom  he  was  to  serve,  being  selected  from 
the  "  baymen "  or  from  civil  life.  The  "  baymen "  were  enlisted 
men  detailed  as  nurses  from  other  branches  of  the  Naval  service 
and  frequently  were  those  who  had  proven  inefficient  elsewhere. 
They  were  not  selected  because  of  special  fitness  or  training  for  the 
work.  When  the  services  of  the  apothecary  were  no  longer  needed, 
he  was  discharged  from  the  Naval  service. 
As  the  work  of  the  Medical  Corps  increased,  and  more  need  was 
found  for  proper  hospital  facilities  and  medical  aid,  a  permanent 
Hospital  Corps  was  established  by  law.  This  was  in  1898.  The 
Corps  consisted  of  hospital  apprentices,  hospital  apprentices,  first 
class,  hospital  stewards,  and  twenty-five  pharmacists,  with  warrant 
rank. 
