The United States federal Cutter Service Act of 1914 emphasized providing otherwise-unobtainable medical services for men on board American
fishing fleets. It authorized the
Commandant of the Revenue Cutter Service
Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...
to "''detail for duty on revenue cutters such
surgeon
In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...
s and other persons of the
Public Health Service as ... necessary''."
As a result of the act, many cutter vessels were fitted out as hospital ships and "''relieved from the regular duties as normally performed by cutters''" to cruise the
fishing banks off the U.S. coastlines as floating hospitals.
1914 in American law
United States federal legislation
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