CHAPTER IX
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
The U. S. Public Health Service, operated as a Bureau of the Department of the Treasury, has charge of the enforcement of the quarantine regulations for the prevention of the introduction of contagious and infectious diseases into the United States from abroad or from one state or territory to another; the care of sick and disabled seamen of the merchant marine, and of scientific research at home and abroad regarding diseases of man which may affect the general public health and welfare.
This service was formerly known as the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, but by an Act of Congress dated August 14, 1912, the name of the service was changed to the Public Health Service and its duties were increased and its powers and responsibilities much enlarged.
The Public Health Service is administered under a Surgeon General stationed at the National Capital, the various duties being assigned to seven divisions.
The Division of Scientific Research, as its name implies, is charged with studies of various diseases such as typhoid, malarial, typhus and yellow fevers, leprosy, tuberculosis, trachoma, pellagra, sanitation and hygiene, water supply and sewage and public health administration in states and cities in cooperation with the local authorities. This division conducts a Hygienic Laboratory at Washington and a number of field laboratories where intensive studies in these subjects are conducted. Through this division the Surgeon General of the Service enforces the laws for the regulation of the sale of viruses and serums and calls annual and special conferences of the health authorities of the several states and territories for the purpose of cooperation in the suppression of preventable diseases and the general improvement of the public health.
The Division of Foreign and Insular Quarantine and Immigration is charged with the execution of the national quarantine laws, this being accomplished at fifty Federal Quarantine Stations in the United States, with additional stations at Panama, Porto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and the Philippines. There are also medical officers under this division detailed at various Consular stations of the United States in foreign countries to assist in the prevention of the introduction of contagious or infectious diseases into the United States or its possessions. This division also conducts the physical and mental examinations of all aliens entering the territory of the United States at any of its ports.
The Division of Domestic and Interstate Quarantine has charge of the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of the spread of contagious or infectious diseases from one state or territory to another.
The Division of Sanitary Reports and Statistics has cognizance of the collection and publication of information relative to the diseases which may threaten the public health of the United States and foreign countries.
The Division of Marine Hospitals has charge of twenty-two Marine Hospitals and about one hundred and twenty-five smaller relief stations at the different ports and cities of the country.
At these stations and hospitals the sick and disabled officers and seamen of the Coast Guard and Lighthouse Services, the Mississippi River Commission, the Engineer Corps of the Army at work upon rivers and harbors works, and the registered and licensed ships of the United States merchant marine are given necessary medical and surgical treatment. This division also furnishes the medical officers for the vessels of the Coast Guard.
The Division of Personnel and Accounts has charge of the record of the officers and men of the service and of the expenditures of the moneys appropriated for the service from the public funds.
The Miscellaneous Division issues the various annual reports, public health reports and other publications of the service, including the bulletins of the results of research at the Hygienic Laboratory at Washington.
The officers of the Public Health Service have titles corresponding to their duties and rank assimilated to that of the Army and Navy, the different grades being as follows:
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS Surgeon General. Assistant Surgeon General. Senior Surgeon. Surgeon. Professor of Hygienic Laboratory. Passed Assistant Surgeon. Assistant Surgeon. Quarantine Inspector. Acting Assistant Surgeon. Chaplain.
WARRANT OFFICERS Interne. Pharmacist. Clerk.
ENLISTED MEN Station Engineer. Pilot. Marine Engineer. First Cook. Cooks. Coachman. Carpenter. Yardman. Messenger. Laundryman. Surgical Nurse. Female Nurse. Night Watchman. Ship Keeper. Boatswain. Coxswain. Ordinary Seaman. Fireman. Coal Passer. Boy.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS
The commissioned officers of the service are required to have complete outfits of full dress, dress, olive-drab service, white service and evening dress uniforms.
_The Full Dress Uniform_ consists of a double-breasted frock coat of dark blue cloth with two rows of gilt buttons down the front, and a standing collar trimmed with gold lace braid; dark blue cloth trousers with gold stripes down the outer leg seams, one and three-quarter inches wide for Surgeon General, one and one-half inches wide for Assistant Surgeon General and one inch wide for other officers; a blue cloth cap with black patent leather visor; black patent leather shoes, white gloves, and full dress sword belt and sword.
The blue cap has a bell crown, the band being of gold braid one and one-half inches wide with a narrow stripe of maroon silk through the center of it and the chin strap worn across the front just above the visor being of gold braid five-eighths of an inch wide with a narrow stripe of maroon silk through the center. The edge of the visor is decorated with gold embroidery, and on the front and center of the cap the distinctive device of the Public Health Service is embroidered.
The Surgeon General wears gold epaulets on the shoulders of the full dress coat with the service insignia and the insignia of his rank, one silver star, embroidered on the top, and the other commissioned officers have shoulder straps of maroon colored broadcloth on the shoulders, these straps being trimmed around the edges with a stripe of gold braid three-quarters of an inch wide and having on them at the center the insignia of the Public Health Service and between this and the shoulder end the insignia of rank.
On the sleeves of the full dress coat are stripes of gold lace braid to indicate the rank of the wearer as follows:
_The Surgeon General._—One band two inches wide, gold-thread lace around each sleeve, two inches from lower edge of cuff, with one band one-half inch gold-thread lace one-fourth inch above; the bands being interspaced with maroon broadcloth.
_Assistant Surgeon General._—Four bands of gold-thread lace one-half inch wide; distance between bands one-fourth inch; the bands being interspaced with maroon broadcloth.
_Senior Surgeon._—Same as for Assistant Surgeon General, omitting uppermost band.
_Surgeon._—Two bands of gold-thread lace one-half inch wide, with one band one-fourth inch wide between; distance between bands one-fourth inch; the bands being interspaced with maroon broadcloth.
_Passed Assistant Surgeon._—Same as for surgeon, omitting one-fourth inch band; distance between bands to be one-fourth inch.
_Assistant Surgeon._—Same as for passed assistant surgeon, substituting one-fourth-inch band for upper band.
_The Dress Uniform_ consists of the blue cap as prescribed for full dress; dark blue serge trousers with a two-inch welted stripe of the same material down the outer leg seam; black leather shoes; white gloves; and a single-breasted sack coat of dark blue serge buttoned down the front by five gun-metal service buttons, with a standing collar. On each shoulder there is a strap of the same material as the coat extending from the shoulder seam to the collar where it is secured by a small service button and on the center of this strap is worn the insignia of rank. There are four patch pockets on the front of the coat each one having a shield shaped flap secured by a small service button, one pocket being on each breast and one on each side below the waist.
_The Service Uniform_ is of the same design as the dress uniform but it is made of olive-drab serge or khaki-colored cotton drill and tan leather shoes are worn. The cap is of olive-drab serge with a russet leather visor and chin strap, a band of olive-drab mohair braid and the service insignia of gun-metal.
_The white Service Uniform_ is of the same design as the olive-drab service uniform but the material is white linen, and white shoes are worn. The white cap has a black patent leather visor, black mohair band and the same service insignia as worn on the blue cap.
_The Blue Evening Dress Uniform_ is of dark blue cloth, cut after the prevailing style for civilian’s evening dress, but having gilt service buttons on the coat and waistcoat, and the same shoulder straps and rank stripes on the sleeves as prescribed for the full dress coat.
_The White Evening Uniform_ consists of a dinner coat, waistcoat and trousers cut after the prevailing style for civilian’s clothing, but having gilt buttons on the coat and waistcoat and shoulder straps of the same material as the coat.
_The Overcoat for Officers_ is a single-breasted ulster of dark blue cloth extending to within twelve inches of the ground, closed down the front by a row of five large flat black buttons, with a standing and falling collar, and having the stripes indicating the rank the same as for the full dress coat except that they shall be of black mohair braid.
Insignia of Service and Rank.—The insignia of the Public Health Service consist of a foul anchor crossed by a caduceus. The distinctive device worn on the blue cap consists of a gold shield seven-eighths of an inch in height, emblazoned palewise with thirteen pieces with a chief strewn with thirteen stars, surmounted by a gold spread eagle five-eighths of an inch in height and one and five-eighths from tip to tip of wings, the whole being placed upon the service insignia in gold, the staff of the caduceus and the anchor each being one and seven-eighths inches long.
The insignia of rank for commissioned officers are as follows:
_The Surgeon General._—One silver star of five rays, of such size that the points of the rays will fill a circle one inch in diameter, to be five-eighths of an inch from one point of the star to the next alternate point. One ray of the star to point toward the collar.
_Assistant Surgeon General._—A silver spread eagle, 2¼ inches wide between the tips of wings; distance from tips of wings to center of talon on each side, 1¼ inches; from top of head to bottom of design, 1¼ inches. The insignia for the right side has in the right talon an olive branch and in the left a bundle of arrows. The extreme width from tip of arrowhead to olive branch is 1⁹/₁₆ inches. These insignia are made in pairs, rights and lefts, and the eagle faces to the front on each shoulder.
_Senior Surgeon._—A seven-pointed silver oak leaf with stem; 1⅛ inches long from the tip of the stem to the tip of the leaf; 1¹/₁₆ inches wide at the widest point. The top of the leaf points toward the collar.
_Surgeon._—A gold oak leaf of the same size and design, and worn in the same manner as for senior surgeon.
_Passed Assistant Surgeon._—Two gold bars, each bar 1⅛ inches long and three-eighths inch wide; the bars being parallel, and three-eighths of an inch apart. The bars are worn with the long axis in a line from front to rear.
_Assistant Surgeon._—One gold bar of the same size and worn in the same manner as for passed assistant surgeon.
_Professor, Hygienic Laboratory._—A gold oak leaf superimposed upon a silver flaming torch one and one-half inches long.
_Quarantine Inspector._—Two crossed flags embroidered in gold, one and one-half inch staff and flags one inch hoist by five-eighths of an inch fly.
_Acting Assistant Surgeon._—The same as for Assistant Surgeon except that the rank insignia is silver instead of gold.
_Chaplain._—A silver Latin cross one inch high.
The insignia of rank for Warrant Officers are as follows:
_Interne._—A rod of Esculapius with a single serpent entwined about it, in silver.
_Pharmacist._—No rank insignia on shoulder straps. On the sleeves of the dress and service coats five inches above the edge there is a “cachet” indicating the rank. This consists of a circular piece of maroon broadcloth one-half inch in diameter surrounded by a circle of gold embroidery one-eighth of an inch wide. For the white service and khaki uniforms the “cachet” is made of enameled metal. Pharmacists of the third class wear one such mark, those of the second class two and those of the first class three.
_Clerk._—Two crossed pens one and a quarter inches in length, embroidered in maroon silk on the dress and service coats and made of enameled metal for the white and khaki coats.
_Collar Ornaments._—The collar ornaments for the dress and service coats are the letters “U. S.” in metal in Gothic design, five-eighths of an inch high, and the service insignia in metal. For the dress and olive-drab and khaki service uniforms these ornaments are of gun-metal and for the white coat they are of gilt metal.
_Buttons._—The buttons worn by officers of the Public Health Service are of metal and bear the insignia of the service, a foul anchor crossed by a caduceus, the anchor being horizontal and the staff of the caduceus vertical.
_Sword and Belts._—The sword for commissioned officers has a straight blade, of diamond shape, 29 to 32 inches long, Hilt pommel, inverted frustrum of a cone with corps device chased on one side and star on the other. Grip, white sharkskin wrapped with gilt wire. Front guard bears corps device; spring back guard, with trophy device. Black leather scabbard with gilt bands, a five-pointed star on each; upper band to have two rings. Tip to be 5 inches long, with laurel branch engraved on the right side. The belt for full dress is one and three-quarters inches wide, with two sling straps three-fourths of an inch wide, covered with gold lace braid and closed by a gilt buckle clasp consisting of a wreath of laurel leaves surrounding a design similar to the service button.
The service uniform belt is the same as the full dress belt but it is made entirely of black grain leather. The sword knot is a strap of one-half inch gold lace twenty-four inches long.
_Leggings._—Leggings for wear with olive-drab and khaki service uniforms are of tan colored pigskin.
WARRANT OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS
The uniforms for Warrant Officers are of the same style and design as those prescribed for commissioned officers, omitting the full dress uniform and the sword.
EMPLOYEES’ AND ENLISTED MEN’S UNIFORMS
The employees at the hospitals and stations of the Public Health Service are provided with blue and white uniforms.
_The Blue Uniform_ consists of a double-breasted sack coat of dark blue serge, with notched rolling collar; cut square at the bottom; length one inch below the crotch; with five gun-metal service buttons on each side down the front; trousers of the same material as the coat; black leather shoes; and a blue cap similar to that worn by commissioned officers but having the band of black mohair braid, the visor and chin strap of plain black patent leather and the service insignia in gilt metal on the center of the front.
_The white Uniform_ is of the same pattern as the blue uniform but made of white cotton drill.
_The Overcoat_ is a double-breasted ulster of dark blue cloth, buttoned to the collar by two rows of large size service buttons, with rolling collar.
The uniforms for ordinary seamen, firemen, coal passers, cooks and boys at Quarantine stations is similar in cut and style to that worn by enlisted men of the U. S. Navy, and is of blue cloth for winter and white duck for summer wear. The cap ribbon bears the words “U. S. QUARANTINE” embroidered in gilt thread.
The marks indicating the ratings and duties of the various employees and enlisted men are worn on the sleeves midway between the elbow and the shoulder and are embroidered in maroon colored silk. They are:
(1) _Station Engineer._—Spread eagle, above two crossed monkey wrenches, and a chevron of three stripes of maroon broadcloth.
(2) _Pilot._—The same as for station engineer, substituting a steering wheel for the crossed monkey wrenches.
(3) _Marine Engineer._—The same as for pilot, substituting a propeller for the steering wheel.
(4) _First Cook._—The same as for pilot, substituting a crescent for the steering wheel, and with a chevron of two stripes.
(5) _Other Cooks._—The same as for first cook, omitting all marks except the crescent.
(6) _Coachman._—A curb bit.
(7) _Carpenter._—A carpenter’s square.
(8) _Yardman._—Two crossed axes.
(9) _Messenger._—A single wing.
(10) _Laundryman._—A flatiron.
(11) _Surgical Nurse._—A spread eagle, Geneva cross, chevron with two bars.
(12) _Night Watchman._—A lantern.
(13) _Ship Keeper._—Two crossed keys.
(14) _Boatswain._—Two crossed anchors.
(15) _Coxswain._—Figure-of-eight knot, 2 inches long.
UNIFORM FOR FEMALE NURSES
The female nurses at the hospitals wear a uniform consisting of a white organdie nurse’s cap, a one-piece dress of white cotton cloth, having a simple waist with plain three-quarter length sleeves with reversed cuffs two and one-half inches wide, a flat rolling collar two inches wide with a wide opening at the neck in front; a four-piece skirt from two to two and one-half yards in circumference at the bottom, reaching to within three inches of the floor; top turned in and stitched to the waist with a double-welt seam. The waist and shirt are buttoned down the front with one row of plain 35-ligne white pearl buttons. Upon the left arm midway between the shoulder and the elbow there is a Geneva cross of maroon colored broadcloth. The shoes and stockings are white.
_Service Stripes._—All members of the personnel of the service below the grade of Pharmacist wear a service stripe of maroon cloth three-eighths of an inch wide diagonally across the sleeve below the elbow for each period of five years service.