FOREWORD
The statistical records of the World War, setting forth the incidenceof disease, injuries and battle casualties and of the work of the MedicalDepartment during that period have been inscribed in history. As in thecase of the Civil War, these records are of great interest from the standpointof medical science and, for military purposes, furnish the soundest basisfor war planning. For the latter purpose, however, these data must be subjectedto careful analysis, taking into consideration all evident and conceivablefactors creating or influencing them. Upon the figures of experience thusobtained, and comparing the past with present and future conditions, mustbe based our estimates of the losses to be expected and of medical servicerequirements in future military operations.
In his official position in the Surgeon General`s Office, Colonel Lovehas had before him the records of the World War and his study of them hasbeen painstaking and exhaustive. The facts and deductions from ColonelLove`s study are now available for use by the war planning agencies inestimating Medical Department requirements as to supply, transportation,evacuation, hospitalization, and other essential features that enter intothe development of the medical service. Particularly is this study valuablein determining more accurately than by previous methods the hospitalizationrequirements in any given situation, so that the result can become an entryin the special plan under consideration and thus constitute a directiverather than a contention.
As the wounded and sick returned to duty afford a valuable source oftrained replacements, this work will also be of value in studies relatingto personnel procurement and replacement.
C. R. REYNOLDS,
Colonel, Medical Corps, U. S. Army,
Commandant, Medical Field Service School.
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