PREFACE
An attempt is made in the following pages to outline a system for estimating,on the basis of our casualty experience in past wars, the requirementsfor medical service including hospitalization and evacuation of front linecasualties; and further to show how intimately the question of replacementsfor all branches of an army is related to casualty rates, and also to promptand efficient medical care.
It has been recognized for a number of years both here and abroad thatthe more efficient the medical service and the nearer the hospitals areto the combat zone, other conditions being equal, the smaller the demandsfor untrained replacements. Consequently, provisions for an adequate medicalservice and sufficient hospitalization should be an essential part of everywar plan.
The only excuses that can be offered by the author, who makes no claimof having, any more than a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics, for notleaving the task to some one better qualified are: First, that he feltthat he was reasonably well acquainted with the sources of informationand the available basic material; second, that no one better qualifiedhad sufficient time or interest in the subject to undertake it.
For the convenience of the reader, a great many figures have been drawnso as to serve the double purpose of illustrations and tables, althoughthis has often resulted in unorthodox construction.
This work was made possible by General M. W. Ireland, whose thoroughknowledge of the medico-military organization and his sympathetic appreciationof the various problems that are connected with it, are a constant helpand inspiration to all members of the Medical Department.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Dr. L. J. Reed, Professor of Biostatistics,Johns Hopkins University, for training in statistical methods while inthat institution and for his assistance during the early stages of thework. He has not had an opportunity to follow the development of the studynor to examine the completed manuscript.
Lt. Colonels H. C. Gibner, G. L. McKinney, A. D. Tuttle and C. C. McCornackhave made many helpful criticisms and suggestions.
Grateful acknowledgment must be made also to Mr. B. M. Oppenheim forhis construction of the Figures, and also for his assistance in the computations.
ALBERT G. LOVE
December 17, 1930.
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