Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-11
POOR WATER
The Principal Cause Of Ty-
phoid at Camp Thomas.
So Claims Chief Surgeon HyselI d
the I'd Division.
Major Gallagher Says Supplies Were Prompt.
" Forwarded to Front.

w dSIiiIlS Ion, Ocl. NJ ne war lnV6S-
tigation commission had three witness
es before 1t. today Capt. Culver of the
Griggsby Rough Riders. DIR. Hyseil,
chief surgeon Of the I'd Division, locat-
ed at Camp Thomas, and Major Gal
lagher. who was in charge of various
commissary depots in the Santiago
campaign. DR.. Hysell's testimony
dealt with the sanitary and hospital
conditions at Camp Thomas. He said
that there was less typhoid fever in the
troops of the I'd Division than in the
other divisions and stated that upon
his advice the division had secured it's
water from outside springs instead Of
from the Chickamauga river, as he
considered the river water liable to be
impure.
Major Gallagher detailed the process
of supplying rations to the troops in
the field. He said that at one time
there was a deficiency in coffee and
sugar for two days and he expressed
the opinion that this shortage would
have proved serious if it had contin-
ued for any length of time. He said
the supply of lighters We're not suffi-
cient to permit the accumulation of
any considerable quantity of food at
any one time.
Captain J. H. Colver, captain of
Troop II. Sd U. S. Cavalry (Gmggs-
by's Rough Riders) said had been sta
toned at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga,
from May until he was mustered out,
on the 18th of September. His COM
pany had been located in the woods,
but while the site was dry, he thought
they would have been better off in the
open. The food generally was also
abundant and good. Onone occasion the
meat was tainted. but it was condemn
ed and exchanged. He stated, how
ever. that the tainted meat was not
badly spoiled and that he would have
been glad enough to use it in the Civil
War.
Captain Howell interrupted the pro-
ceedings to inquire the object of the
examination of the witness, to which
Gov. Beaver, who was conducting
the examination, replied that it was to
show what the different bureaus of the
war department had done and how
they did it. and he thought the inquiry
very pertinent.
To this Mr.. Howell responded. "The
proper men from whom to secure this
information are the officers who sup
piled the equipment"
Gen. Dodge stated that there had
been some complaint as to delay in
supplying the regiment with it's equip
ments. This explanation satisfied Cap
tain Howell and the investigation pro-
ceeded.
Capt Culver stated that at one time
% of his men We're sick. He thought
the proportion not excessive; no great
err than during the first days of the
Civil War. and until the men learned
to depend upon the army ration ana
not to go outside for food. He thought
the pies sold to the men were unwhole-
some and also that much stale fried
chicken was sold to them. In con-
clusion, Capt. Culver said he had no
complaint to make of treatment ex-
cept in the location of his troop in the
woods. He had protested against
this.
Capt. Culver was followed by DR..
James II. Hysell, who was chief sur
geon of the Sd Division of the LIST Army
Corps and who was located at Camp
of June to the 21st of August. He had
been surgeon in the Civil War, and
since then said he had been in general
practice.
All the early cases of typhoid were
treated in the regimental hospitals and
the patients We're not isolated until af-
ter the construction of the division
hospital. when typhoid and suspicious
cases were isolated and the men were
well attended by physicians and nurses
though ait times one nurse would have
charge of 30 men. The sinks were kept
covered with earth, but DR.. Hysell
said that no special precaution was
taken to disinfect vessels going to and
from the sinks. There had been HOO
cases of all kinds of diseases treated
in the hospital and Is deaths.
According to his opinion, the men
in his division had mot had as much
water as they should have used, though
the men did not complain. This was
due to the fact that he had been sus-
picious of the water from the Chick
amauga river and had water hauled
to the camp in barrels from outside
springs. He had thought that by this
precaution he would protect the troops
in his charge from typhoid. He had
DR. Martin of the 1st Brigade, exam
inc the intake Of the pipe line and
this surgeon had reported that it was
$50 feet from the mouth of Chickamau-
ga creek, which received the drainage
from the camp. DR.. Martin had also
reported that the men were in the
habit Of bathing in the river above
the take-in. Furthermore, he had
found the water from one artesian well
to be muddy and that from others to
contain a fungus growth. He had,
however. had this water analysed and
had found it to be wholesome.
DR.. Hysell thought typhoid fever had
been brought into camp from the out
side and that the increase had been
due to the failure to properly cover the
sinks and to the prevalence Of flies. He
did not think it possible to effectually
isolate typhoid fever cases as typhoid
was so difficult to detect in it's early
stages. All reasonable precautions had
been taken in locating the camp to
prevent the development of disease. He
admitted that in case of another war
Continued on page ~