. ee “Shae SLENNAN TREASURY DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE JTC OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL 1N REPLYING ADDRESS THE SURGEON GENERAL WASHINGTON /0 ?, U. 8, PUBLIO HEALTH SERVICE May % 1915 7 Passed Assistant Surgeon Lawrence Kolb, U. S&S. Immigration Service, Ellis Island, New York. Sirt (Through the Medical Officer in Charge) Referring to Bureau letter of even date, directing you to proceed to certain places along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to examine the eyes of officers stationed at these places to determine their vision and color sense, you are informed that the examination for color sense should be made with both the Williams lantern and the woolen skeins. ‘The result of each examination should be stated on the enclosed form letters. After making this examination, you are to explain to the officer how physical examinations of applicants for enlistment in the U.S. Coast Guard should be made, using the enclosed blank (U.S. Coast Guard form 2503) as a guide. The ausculta- tory method should be used in determining blood pressure. & sphygmomanometexr should be taken with you in order that you may be able to demonstrate to the acting assistant surgeons who are unfamiliar with this instrument just how it should be used. Officers should be informed that finger prints of applicants need not be taken until further notice is received from the Bur eau. * P.&. Surgeon L.Kolb, -2- May 10, 1915. For the purpose of carrying out these orders, the medical officer in charge of the marine hospital at Stapleton, New York, has been requested to lend you a sphygmomanometer and stetho- scope. On your way south, you are directed to stop at No. 410 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., and obtain a Williams lantern from the medical officer in charge of that station. A set of worsteds and test types have been sent to you at Philadelphia in his care. All of these articles should be taken with you on your trip. No examinations of the officers on duty at Phila- delphia should be made by cin. | A number of requisition blanks are enclosed herewith and if any station is in need of a set of worsteds or test types, @ requisition should be forwarded by the medical officer in charge of the station to the Purveying Depot for these articles before your departure therefrom. The Bureau expecte every acting assistant surgeon in charge of a third class station to havé a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. If he does not have these instruments, he should supply himself with them at once, at his own expense. As soon as he has received them and is prepared to make examinations for the Coast Guard, he should immediately notify the Bureau. The Purveying Depot has a contract with the Physicians Specialty Company, 575 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, to furnish a No. 3 Brown sphygmomanometer for $8.25 and a No. 4 for $7.00. A leaflet describing this instrument is enclosed. It is possible that this Company would be willing to furnish a sphygmomanometer to these officers that need them at the above po S% .P.A. Surgeon L.Kolb, =-3~ May &, 1915. quoted prices, but the Bureau is not sure of this fact. A letter has been written to them asking if they would be willing to do this, but their reply has not as yet been received. A confidential report should be forwarded to the Bureau upon each acting assistant surgeon on duty at a third class station, giving his age, physical condition and his ability to make physical examinations, also, to render hospital relief (ancluding surgical work) and to perform quarantine duty. When compiling your data for this confidential report, the Bureau does not desire that you make an exhaustive physical examina- tion of these officers, but merely give their general physical condition. In your report you should state if an officer is ready to begin the examinations, and if not, at what time he will be able to do se. Special care shovld be taken in making this report as the Bureau does not wish to inform the Captain Commandant of the Coast Guard that an officer is ready to make examim.tions and have applicants journey twenty-five or fifty miles and then find that the examination cannot be made on account of the lack of facilities. If an acting assistant surgeon is found to be color blind or in any other way unsuitable, you are directed to examine some other physician in the town as to his color sense who is willing to be eligible for appointment to make physical ex- aminations for the Coast Guard.