The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-01
LEADS ALL NORTH GAR0lNA DAlE@ N NEWS AMID GRGl 0M

| the hospital was crowded there was Il
lack of nurses, the deficiency being sup
Piled by details from the regiments,
which were not as satisfactory as train
cd nurses.
General Boynton shows that there is
full refrigerator capacity for this h0spi-
tai, porcelain lined baths, sterilized and
iced water, and every convenience. In
the malignant typhoid ward there have
been but two deaths out of 80 cases in
three weeks. He says that both the
medical officers and the hospital at
tendants at this hospital have undoubt-
edly performed their duty with energy
and efficiency, and the best test of all
this is shown by the fact that so many
of them have thoroughly exhausted
themselves and fallen sick under their
labors.
The next hospital inspected was the
Third Division hospital, First corps, i'll
charge Of Major Thomas Clark. Here
the attendants were found sufficient,
though in the earlier days there were
not enough surgeons or attendants. The
grounds were in excellent condition, the
tents clean, most of the tents tloored
and all foored between the cots and in
the aisles.
Taking up the last of the field h0spi-
tails. that of the Third corps, Second
division, under Major Smith, the report
states that the % tents are at present
not all occupied. though during the cpl
demic of measles they were crowded.
Leaving the details about the
hospitals the report proceeds to treat
the whole subject, generally as follows:
''In two of the hospitals opportunities
occurred for discovery of what undoubt-
edly originated many of the sensational
stories which have been printed over the
country to the effect that patients III the
hospitals lacked sufficient food, and in
many cases had been on the verge OF
starvation. In the wards where til"
convalescent typhoid fever patients were
found many of the men were constantly
asking for food. and, as Il matter of
course, were as constantly denied every
thing except lighter forms of food, which
can alone be safely administered to re-
covering typhoid patients. This refusal
of food throughout the hospitals, by
which care alone, as is perfectly under
stood. can the lives of typhoid GONZALES
cents be saved. has been distorted inlo
the cry which has been spread through
out the country that patients were being
starved in the government hospitals.
There has been no lack of proper food
in these hospitals, and competent COOKS
for preparing it have been present. and
the only reason for denriving the patients
of what so many of them have clamored
for has been the necessity of such diet
ing as the disease demands.
81 am constrained to believe that there
has been no neglect on the part of either
medical or quartermaster departments to
furnish such supplies as have reached
the camp.
Undoubtedly there have been serious
inconyeniences and at times of the great
est crowding. lack Of conveniences and
full attendance which 90 TO make up that
painful condition of affairs, which as
every veteran knows, are inseparahla
from the field hospitals of great armies.
even when all concerned exert themselves
to secure the comfort of the patients.
These are conditions which, in times of
rapid increase of disease-a condition
which was reached at this camp solely
in my judgment from the filth which too
many of the regimental officers allowed
to dominate their camps. in spite of the
orders which would have prevented all
this trouble from the surgeon general and
from the commanding officers of this
| camp--create a situation which cannot
be Immediately amelorated.
so far from believing, as a result of
my observations. that medical officers
have been heartless or negligent. | be-
lieve that these officers and the hospital
attendants, as a whole, have exerted
themselves to discharge their duties
faithfully. 1T would seem as if this were
flxy CHI Iry4 Fo
have worked increasingly until quarter
of the whole force has itself been strick-
en- by disease resulting from their ex-
hausting labors.
"My attention was especially directed
in the order which ] received. to some
remarks credited to General Terry. sur
geon general of the State of New York
in reference to the condition of the camp
of the Eighth New York. General Ter
ry is reported in the New York Herald
to have said, as he was leaving Camp
Thomas:
General Terry found the camp in a
bad sanitary condition. 1t is situated in
an open field in the hot sun, with no
water to be found within five miles The
water the men drink is hauled in barrels.
and is of a kind that in New York would
| be refused as bathing water. The stuff
| is what the men drink daily and is de-
| clared to be the chief causes Of fhe sick
ness.
Gen. Terry told me that it was the
most terrible sight he had ever witness
ed; and that not in the slums of New
| York city could he found place 50
| filthy and dirty. He said he would in
sist on the Eighth New York regiment
being returned TO New York. and had
| wired Governor Black and the Secretary
of War Of the situation.
IF the soldiers are not soon taken
from Chickamauga Park they will soon
| follow the twenty four who died yester-
| day and nearly as many today.
Camp Thomas hospitals are unclean
and badly located. Nourishing food is
| lacking rs well as proper medical atten-
| tion. The food is regular army rations.
| badly cooked. More than two hundred
| patients have often been made to get
along with $50 narrow cots. They are
| simply laid on litters not six inches from
the ground. Few. if any, of the bospitaI
| tents have plank floors
'"This camp was removed to the omen
| field at the special request Of the off
| GERS concerned, as they were inclined
| TO think that their camn i'm tho onan