The record-union., 1898-10-17
A Letter From the Surgeon Genera|
Of the Army
In Reply to One Received From the Red
Gross Relief Committee.
The Government Made Ample Pro-
vision in Money Allowances for
the Purchase OF Everything
Necessary in the Way Of Suita-
BILE Diet for the Sick.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-The fol-
lowing letter from the Surgeon General
Of the war was written in reply to one
sent to the President by A. f. Orr Vice
Chairman of the Red Cross Relief Com
mittee:
Il have received the copy of your
letter to the President. In answer to
your question as to why the interven-
ton of the Red Cross Relief Commit
tee should be longer needed, and why
the Government does not see to it that
it's own sick are provided for? 1 would
say:
The emergencies of the war made
the assistance of the relief associations
most valuable, Notwithstanding the
fact that it is the intention of the Gov
ernment to provide literally for the
care of sick soldiers. But as you
know, with ample means and good in
tentions, supplies cannot always be
provided at the proper place and time
to meet an emergency. Moreover, at
the outset of the war the arrangements
made for providing light diet for the
sick, which had proved satisfactory in
time of peace under the careful man
agement of experienced medical Off
GERS, We're inadequate under the condi-
tions which prevailed il our camps of
instruction and among troops engaged
in active operations. For this reason
the presence of Red Cross agents with
their abundance of supplies of delica-
cieS for the sick has been of inestima-
BILE value. But provision was made by
a general order published August 10th
&c. o. 116), by which surgeons in
charge of hospitals, general division or
regimental are enabled to draw 60
cents per day for each sick enlisted
man of the army in lieu of his regular
ration. Up to that time the commuta-
tion value of a ration was only 80
cents.
The Medical Department does not
supply food for the sick in hospital.
This is obtained from the Gommissary
Department, or by purchase wherever
it can be procured. I inclose herewith
list showing the articles which can
be purchased from the Commissary,
which list as you will see, includes
canned SOUPS, taofoca, crackers. jel-
lies, tea, butter, etc. Milk, chickens
and eggs, fresh vegetables, etc, are
purchased wherever they can be OBJ
tanned. The Medical Department fur
nishes a few articles under the head of
hospital stores, including condensed
milk, sugar and tea, but no other food
supplies are furnished by the Medical
Department or can be properly paid for
from the medical and hospital appro-
priation. OF course, if the Commits
sary Department fails to provide these
supplies, and they cannot be purcha sed
in the vicinity of the camp or hospital,
the difficulty Of providing proper food
for the sick will be very great and
under such circumstances the supplies
of relief associations have been most
welcome. But the amount now allowed
by the Government is ample to pro-
vide everything necessary in the way
of suitable diet for the sick, and when
there is any failure to provide this it is
failure in the administration by those
Immediately in charge and not a fail
ure of the Government to provide the
necessary means
You will no doubt agree with me
that so cents a day for the raw mater
ial from which to prepare a proper diet
for the sick is most liberal provision.
The experience of medical officers
shows that it is not only ample, but ex-
cessive and that for sick men, living
for the most part upon milk, weak
soups and farinaceouS food this amount
is much in excess of any reasonable re-
quirement.
Under these circumstances, I think
that those patriotic and liberal citizens
who have contributed so freely of their
money and to aid in the case of our
sick soldiers may now leave the matter
in the hands of the Government, with
out any apprehension as to the result -