New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-17
WASHINGTON.
THE HEALTH OF THE ARMY.


REPORT OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BAR
RAcxs-suGGEsrroNs FOR BARRAcK HOSPITALS
AND IMPROVED RATIoNs.
lYRox THE REsCLAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSS.I
WASHINGTON. June 16.-A report on the hygiene
Of the United States Army. with full descriptions OF
| the military posts of the United States. lust
| issued from the Office of the Surgeon-Gen-
| eral, is one Of tho most interesting and
| important Of tho late Government publi-
TONS The Introductory essay by Acknowledgment
John g. Billings treats Of the subjects which are re-
lated to the health and comfort Of the soldier in the
| following order:
guarhouses with their appendages H. The food Of the
army and its preparation III Inc clothing OF the army
| ~. The hospitals and medical supplies
I" The barracks and quarters Of the army Dr..
Billings says, have ~ a whole. improved within
the last five years. The reduction of the army and
the employment of large part of il away from the
permanent posts, has given larger air-space with
its accompanying advantages to those quartered in
regular barracks" Many obvious improvements are
suggested and the opinion expressed that the ser
vice loses every year. by death and discharge on &C.
count Of over-crowded and badly ventilated barracks
and guard-houses. about 100 men.
In treating of the food Of the army, interesting
history of the army ration, by Surgeon Joseph u.
Smith is introduced and the conclusion arrived at
that nothing can be more certain, both theoreti-
caly and practically than that the ration, per sc,
that is, without additions by exchanges and pur-
chase. is insufficient The character of the food fur
nished very ably discussed and its ada tation to
the physical needs of the soldier scientifically con-
sered and this part of the essay is closed with u
series of very important suggestions for improving
the army ration.
"Grcat improvements" DR.. Billings says, have
been made in the clothing Of the army. both rs to
pattern and material, within the last three years,
and the articles now being manufactured are more
satisfactory than any which have ever been issued
to troops
Considerable space is devoted to the subject OF
hospitals, and plans of some of the best buildings
for this purpose introduced, with full descrip-
tions. In to the question, What is the
best plan hospital p the reply is that hardly
any two hospitals can or should he alike. The pa
vilion PLAN which for time was supposed to be a
perfect panacea against all evil, has been found by
sal experience to furnish no security against the
evils summed up in the word hospitalisr,' aud the
results of practical trial in recent both in this
country and in Europe have led TO the recommend
alton of the so-called barrack hospitals !; that Is,
temporary wooden structures, Intended to last but
10 or ~ years in fact such now used In the
army"
The descriptions of the military posts of the conn
try, with the very interesting remarks OF the
medical officers stationed at them on the effects OF
climate and location upon disease fill nearly 600
quarto pages, and contain many valuable contribu-
ions to the knowledge of the hygenic condi ions of
the different sections Of the United States. Espe-
cially important the remarks Of the medical
officers at the posts which are situated at high
elevations upon the effect of attitudes and mountain
| climates upon diseases of the lungs. The opinion
of the majority of medical officers is that altitude
and rarited atmosphere are not per beneficial IN
cases of phthisis but that 1t IL the dryness OF the
air. the exercise and the outdoor life, which pro-
luce good results in those which ale able to
stand it,"