The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
Accommodations Almost Perfect,
stocked with Delicacies. and Doc
tors and Nurses Ample.
REPORTS WERE EXAGGERATED
PLENTY OF GOOD WATER WITHIN
TWO MILES OF CAMP THOMAS.
Cry for Food Came from Typhoid Pa
fients, Who Could Not BE Allowed
TO Have Their Way.


WASHINGTON. Aug. 31.-Secretary Alger
to-day received the report of Gen. H. v.
Boynton on the state of affairs in the hos
pitals at Camp Thomas. The report is dated
Aug. %. The general says that his instruc-
tions were to report the number of sick,
character of illness, number of tents, floor
space per patient, the adequacy and suita-
bility of attendants, and whether the med
ical officers have discharged their duties
faithfully and with intelligence, and 10
make any recommendation in the interest of
all concerned. He says that he visited all
the hospitals in the camp, without giving
notice of his purpose. Says General Boyn-
ton:
Believing the death list of this camp to
afford an excellent standard by which to
measure it's conditions as to health and hos
pital service, a full report was obtained of
ali deaths in the camp and in its hospitals
since its establishment the middle of April
last. The result shows a total death list of
1913 up TO the 22d of this month, when the
breaking UP of this camp began. Between
these dates, including regulars and volun-
teers. fully 1900 troops have been in camp
in the Chickamauga Park. The record of
burials in the National Cemetery at Chat
two regular soldiers OF the latter one of
these was killed by falling from a railway
trains
The report takes up in detail first the two
permanent hospitals Letter and Sternberg.
ard states with the greatest minuteness the
exact accommodation afforded by each The
first is at Crawfish Springs, under charge
of Major Carter, and was converted from a
large summer resort hotel into a hospital
receiving the worst typhoid cases from the
camp. Each patient has abundant room
woven wire and hair mattresses and abun-
dant bed clothing. The ventilation is per-
feet, plumbing entirely new and bathing
facilities ample. The number of attendants
when all are well, is entirely satisfactory,
and attendants are on the way to take the
places of those who are broken down.
HAS A HERD OF COWS.
Major Carter has secured 6. herd of cows,
and has arranged for pasturing them with
out expense to the government. He has
sufficient money from the hospital fund to
buy whatever is wanted in the way of milk,
ice and other delicacies. There has been at
this hospital full supplies of ice, milk, COM
missary stores and delcacies, such as the
sick ought to have. and the funds have en-
abled him to buy all that has been needed
In the way of canned and potted goods
soups. clam juice, sago, matted milk, eggs
kouniiss, jellies, preserves, relishes, ginger
ale, apollinaris, champagne and claret. The
entire hospital is furnished with distilled
water, and the ice used is made from dis
TILED water. The sewerage of the hospital
is excellent, and, contrary to persistent as
sertions, none of the sewage has ever been
drained into the Chckamauga river or ap-
preached it at any point. Major Carter has
corps of doctors which he regards as am
ply sufficient to care for all the patients
In the hospital, and reports them as faithful
and efficient in the performance of their
duties.
Taking up the Sternberg Hospital. in
charge of. Major Giffen, General Boynton
shows that it is one of the most complete
field hospitals ever seen according to vet
erans of the last war. All the tents are
closely 1oored and they are separate: at
present only four men are in any tent and
In addition to the tents there are nine large
board pavilions. Every tent and pavilion
has woven wire mattresses, iron bedsteads
and hair mattresses. There are especial diet
cooks, five cold storage rooms for delicacies.
separate refrigerators for each row of tents
ard every proper measure of sanitation is
observed with respect to the sinks. Further
the report says:
'The whole place is most carefully policed
daily and the whole establishment within
and without its permanent buildings and
its tents is in the most perfect order Since
the establishment of this hospital every
thing asked for in the way of supplies of
every kind has been promptly furnished.
Sixteen to twenty-four barrels of distilled
water are purchased daily. and patients get
nothing but distilled water to drink From
three to five tons OF ice are used daily
Three hundred gallons of milk are pur-
chased daily and $50 gallons furnished by the
Red Cross Society.
"All money necessary for the purchase of
delicacies of every kind suitable to the sick
has been furnished by order of General
Sternberg. Soon after the hospital was es-
tablished he telegraphed as follows 10 the
surgeon in charge: DO not fail to procure
everything necessary for the comfort of the
sick. Apply to me for additional female
nurses and for money to buy delicacies
when required A careful inquiry developed
the fact that all varieties of medical sun
plies required or asked for were furnished
both from Washington and from medical
headquarters at the camp with the greatest
promptness."
1t IS stated in addition that all the hospitaI
@NAtsSo - poiHeo IA q cteihdtoty, ana, dc-
cording 70 Major Giffen, all bat one thou
sand patients now sick in the entire camp
could be safely moved now. The diseases
are more Of a typho-malaria character than
typhoid fever strictly. the death rate he
ing very low, only about per cent. of the
worst cases
FIRST DIVISION HOSPITAL.
The First Division field hospital. in charge
sf Major Drake, Is Aoored with pIaned lum