Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-10-22
FRYE'S ROAST.
Hospital Surgeon Condemns
Practices in Vogue.
CONDITIONS AT M0NTAUK.

CONDITIONS AT M0NTAUK.
Work of Investigating Committee
Goes on Apace-McKinley at Chi-
cagO; Marines, Soldiers and Police
OverpOwered; President Responds
to Toast at Banquet and Talks on
Expansion - Rodriguiz Advises
Cubans to Accept Situation
Spain's Peace Com IN issiOncrs Are
for Delay-ParrOn Says Spain May
Now Recuperate-New and Notes.
Jacksonville, Oct. 2O-Dr. X. d. Frye,
major and executive officer of the Third
division hospital testified yesterday be-
fore the inquiry commission as to the
management of this institution, and also
as to the management Of the second di-
vision hospital at Montauk Point and
the military hospital a t Fort Mcpherson,
Ga. He said the Montauk patients lacked
FOR nothing and We're excelently taken
care of by both physicians and nurses
At Fort Mcpherson there were at one
time 925 patients. There was no material
shortage In drugs or food at this point.
Occasionally there was slight de-
ficiency, but it was quickly overcome.
DR.. Frye said that in all the hospitals
with which he had been connected there
had been deficiency of bed linen. This
had been especially true in Fort Nc
Pherson. There had been orders to pre-
pare beds there for 1000 patients, but
this demand had by no means been met.
The hospital here had also been short of
lighting facilities. There was not a
sufflciency OF candles or lanterns.
ReQuisitions had been made for them,
but they could not be secured from the
government stores, owing to the con-
struction Of orders; hence 1t was neces-
sary to depend upon the Red Cross for
these articles. =
DR.. Frye expressed the opinion that
in several instances convalescents had
been sent away from the hospitals with
which he was connected before they
were in condition that permitted
them to go in safety He thought these
instances were due to insufficient super
vision, to ignorance of physicians and
desire to'clear the wards Of the hospitals
for new patients. --,.
DR. Frye spoke in uncomplimentary
terms Of the men engaged In the hospi-
tai corps. saying that they had been
picked up at random over the country
and were generally a scabby looking
lot," not fit to adQrn any walk Of life. He
also spoke depreciatingly Of the contract
surgeons, saying that he would not be
willing to trust his family or friends to
so percent Of them. MANY of them," he
said, "are recent graduates from medi-
cal institutions, and l do not consider
the average medical graduate capable
of taking charge of from rs to 50 typhoid
fever cases."
There was, he said, no proper oppor-
tunity for consultation with superior
officers, as the latter were as a rule SO
generally occupied with their admins
trative duties as to prevent their giving
proper attention to professional matters
until specially called upon. He con-
sidered this very wrong, and said that
there should be more supervision in Sc
rious cases in hospital on the part of
experienced men.
Major Frye gave his opinion as to the
origin of the popular excitement con-
cerniDg conditions at Montauk Point
while the troops were stationed there.
He said that from so to Is percent of the
men were sick when they landed there,
t,,c ID cto ho Il
made for them. AS consequence many
were compelled to lie upon the bare
ground and they naturally suffered from
exposure. He also asserted that re-
pOrters from many newspapers had been
sent to the camp under Instructions to
find all that was bad and nothing that
was good.
DO you know this of your own per-
sonal knowledge?" he was asked.
"No; but was told 1t by men who had
talked with the reporters"
Colonel Dows Of the Forty ninth Iowa
regiment said there had been no def
cheney In the commissary supplies" The
men have the regular army rations," he
said, land IL they have not had enough
the fault Is theirs" He had h;d some
complaints against the meat, and In all
cases the undesirable article was ex-
changed upon application and without
going through the form Of condemna-
ton. Speaking Of the medical supplies,
Colonel Dows said that physician who
had been sent to the camp had spoken
with surprise Of the variety and quality
Of the medicines, medical supplies and
appliances.
General f. B. Williston, in command
Of the First brigade Of the Seventh army
corps, was questioned about various
points, having been stationed at Camp
Thomas, MOntauk Point, Anniston and
other points before coming TO Jackson
vile. He said the principal objection to
Camp Thomas, in Chicsamauga park
was the fact that 1t was impossible. on
account of formation Of the ground. to
have sinks more than two or three feet
in depth. There had also been an in
sufficiency of water in the beginning of
the history Of the camp. The water was
taken from wells and, while he did not
believe the water was contaminated
from the surface. he though. II had too
much magnesia In It - be wholesome.
He had found difficulty in getting suffi-
cient water for stock at that period. but
General BOynton had afterwards con-
structed two wells In the vicinity of his
camp, thus removing this objection.
Speaking Of the conditions at Jackson !
willie. he said he did not see that any fault
could be found with either the admins
trative officers or the service performed
by them In either the medical. commits
sary or quartermaster departments.
Most Of his staff officers were volunteers.
but he had found them very efficient. He
had also found the troops In h's command
splendidly equipped and the regimental
officers especially jealous to maintain
the best sanitary conditions possible.
Circuit Will Bo Changed.
Buffalo. Oct. 20.-Presldent Powers OF
the Eastern Baseball league had an in.