The evening times., 1895-10-17
OUR SOLDIERS HEALTHY
Annual Report Of the Surgeon
General Of the trmy.
SICK RATE. HAS DECREASED
Drunkenness Has Also Declined and
the Sanitary Condition of Posts Is
Generally Excellent-Army Medical
Museum ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the
Hospital. Corps.

The annual report OF The Surgeon General
OF the Army for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1898, shows a gratifying REQ
ord as rcga rt,s the health of the army FOR the
calendar year OF 1894, which. taken as a
whole, may be said to be the best annual
record ever consolidated from returns sent
in by United States Army medical Officers.
Although the death rate is a fraction
higher than the lowest rate ever recorded,
the other rates are by far lower than they
have ever before been in the history Of
our Army.
The number of admissions per 900 OF
mean strength of the army was only
1,OS3..3. az compared with 1,2S9.04 dur
ing the calendar year 1898, and with
1.3T6.S9 the average of the years of the
previous decade. The rate of admission
for injuries was as large as usual, but the
reduction in the number OF cases of disease
was very marked, the admission rate
having been only S45.42 per thousand of
strength as compared with 1.C45.01 and
1,121.O6. respectively, for the previous
year and the years of the previous decade.
SICK RATE Low.
The rate of non-efficicnt cr constant
sickness was only 34.49, contrasting favor
ably with 4O.l5 in the previous year, and
42.51 as the average of the previous ten
years; and the average number of days lost
on account of disability by each man Of
the army was only 1876, as against 14.7
in 1893. and 90 in the previous ten years.
b. The total disbursements for expenses "f
the medical department OF the army for
the year was S71,745.3O.
The total number of specimens In the
Army Medical Museum at the end of the
fiscal year was 1888. of which 623
were received during the year. The museum
during the lIy ~ O4l
persons.
The number of patients during the year
at Providence Hospital was l,1ea. the
average number treated per day having
been ia.
The character of the personnel of the
hospital corps is improved. Great care Is
taken to investigate the character and
previous record of every man offering for
re-eniistment or transfer from the line. with
view to maintaining high standard OF
sobriety and efficiency.
REDUCTION OF THE CUPS.
Owing to the abandonment of a number
OF military posts a considerable reduction
in the number of privates has taken place
during the year. On June 80, 1896, there
there were only $50 as compared with
5S5 at the end of the preceding year.
The prevalence of alcoholism in the Army
pntinues to decline. The admission rate
for the past year was 30. "a per thousand
of strength as compared with 1897. 81 .23.
4O.O1, 4O.73 and 41.41 in the five pre-
ceding years, and with 56.6S in the decade
ending with 1889.
In 1890 no less than seventeen posts had
more than 10 per cent of their average
strength under medical care for drunken
ness; in 1891, eleven posts; in 1892. ten
posts; In 1898, seven posts. and during the
past year only four posts
The food furnished the Army is reported
as ample in quantity. varied in kind. and
well cooked, and the clothing issued has
given general satisfaction.