NAVY
HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE NAVY
Statement by Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire (MC), U.S.N., Surgeon General
HOSPITAL FACILITIES
Despite the surrender of Japan, the number of patients in naval hospitals within the continental limits will increase during the next few months. This is the logical result of the steady evacuation to the United States from Pacific areas of hospitalized personnel.Although the normal capacity of statewide naval hospitals is 72,531 at present, the use of double-deck beds and adoption of other emergency measures has sent the actual capacity beyond the 100,000 mark. For the week ended August 15 the patient census was 89,798.Today there are in operation, within the continental United States, fifty-four naval hospitals. Forty are general hospitals, thirteen are for convalescent care and one serves chiefly as a distribution hospital. With the possible exception of the last named institution, it does not appear that any