AFebmaVry,Pih9air9m" }       Hospital  Corps  of  the  Navy.  89 
Laboratory  Technique. — Their  knowledge  of  chemistry  and 
microscopy  must  be  sufficient  to  aid  in  a  proper  control  over  the 
water  supply,  to  make  an  examination  of  foods,  carry  out  such 
clinical  tests  as  may  be  demanded,  such  as  blood  examination,  urine 
tests,  examination  of  feces,  the  Widal  and  Wassermann  tests,  etc., 
as  any  of  these  may  become  a  part  of  their  duty. 
Pharmacy. — As  a  pharmacist,  the  hospital  corpsman  will  have 
charge  of  the  dispensary  either  in  hospitals  on  land  or  on  board 
ship.  This  rarely  calls  for  the  manufacture  of  pharmaceuticals,  but 
must  embrace  a  knowledge  of  the  medicines  on  the  supply  table  of 
the  Navy  as  well  as  those  generally  used  in  medical  practice  and 
sufficient  chemical  training  to  pass  upon  the  quality  of  these  sup- 
plies. The  ordering  and  the  proper  care  of  the  medical  supplies 
and  pharmaceutical  equipment,  together  with  the  bookkeeping 
records  of  the  department,  the  compounding  of  the  prescriptions,  and 
the  preparation  of  such  materials  as  the  Dakin-Carrel  Solution,  are 
a  part  of  the  every-day  work. 
Clerical. — An  important,  function  of  the  hospital  corpsman  is 
clerical.  The  typewriter  must  be  used  for  reports.  They  must  be 
familiar  with  the  bookkeeping  methods  of  the  commissary  depart- 
ment and  must  be  prepared  to  take  charge  of  or  supervise  such 
records.  They  must  supervise  the  hospital  galley  (kitchen)  and 
mess-hall,  and  must  oversee  the  ordering  of  supplies  and  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  storage  and  quality  of  foods.  They  must  be 
familiar  with  all  forms  used  in  the  medical  corps,  and  be  able  to 
properly  prepare  them.  These  forms  include  records  of  enlistment, 
discharge,  medical  examinations,  laboratory  tests,  sick  and  death 
reports,  request  for  leave,  official  correspondence,  etc. 
Hygiene  and  Sanitation. — At  any  time  the  hospital  corpsman 
may  be  detailed  to  serve  on  shore  duty  with  the  marines.  Here  he 
occupies  the  important  position  of  sanitary  officer.  He  must  be 
qualified  to  establish  a  camp,  look  after  the  water  supply,  examine 
the  quality  of  water  available,  and  if  necessary,  purify  it  for  the 
troops,  take  care  of  all  refuse  about  the  camp,  establish  proper 
latrines,  provide  bathing  facilities  and  install  and  superintend  the 
operation  of  incinerators  for  the  disposal  of  all  sewerage  and  refuse. 
In  this  service,  he  must  also  be  prepared  to  establish  and  equip  a 
field  hospital  and  superintend  its  management,  as  has  already  been 
outlined. 
This  account  of  the  varied  duties  of  hospital  corpsmen  of  the 
