Louis Livingston Seaman

“ The state deprives the soldier of his liberty, prescribes his exercises, equipment, dress, diet, the locality in which he shall reside, and in the hour of danger expects him, if necessary, to lay down his life in its defense and honor. It should therefore give him the best sanitation and the best medical supervision that the science of the age — be it Japanese or Patagonian — can devise. ”

“ As an answer, the statement of a distinguished Japanese officer, when discussing with me the subject of Russia's overwhelming numbers, is pertinent. "Yes," he said, "we are prepared for that. Russia may be able to place 2,000,000 men in the field. We can furnish 500,000. You know in every war four men die of disease for every one who falls from bullets. That will be the position of Russia in this war. We propose to eliminate disease as a factor. Every man who dies in our army must fall on the field of battle. ”

“ The organization of the medical de- partment of the Japanese army and navy is modeled after that of the Germans, with many added improvements. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the medical department of the army and navy for their splendid preparatory work in this war. The Japanese are the first to recognize the true value of an army medical corps. The medical officer is omnipresent. You will find him in countless places where in an American or British army he has no place. He is as much at the front as in the rear. ”

“ The medical officer is also found in camp, lecturing the men on sanitation and the hundred and one details of personal hygiene — how to cook, to eat, and when not to drink, to bathe, and even to the direction of the paring and cleansing of the finger nails to prevent danger from bacteria. Up to August 1, 9,682 cases had been received at the reserve hospital at Hiroshima, of whom 6,636 were wounded. ”