The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-14
A SURGEONS TESTIMONY.
Dr. HOR Tells of Conditions IN the
Third Army COrps

WASHINGTON. Oct. 13.-Leut. Col. J. @.
Hoff was before the war investigating COM
mission at its forenoon session to-day He
is a regular army officer, and was chief sur
geon in the Third Army Corps at Camp
Thomas. Chickamauga Park. He said he
did not consider the camp to SIave been in
the best sanitary condition, but expressed
the opinion that it was the best it could
be under the circumstances. The men were
encamped somewhat closer to each other
than they should properly have been, and
1t would have been impossible without
blasting to make the sinks as deep as good
sanitation required. owing to a bed of lime
stone, which lay two or three feet below
the surface Of the ground throughout the
camp. Furthermore, it was impossible to
compel men to use the sinks, and he
thought it probable that this difficulty had
led to injurious results. Every effort had
been made to have the sinks properly COW
cred and disinfected, and to have the men
use them.
DR.. Hoff said that in the beginning the
camp was deficient in medical suppIiesn,
There were at this time many cases OF
diarrhoea, and it had not been possiole to
meet all the demands for remedies. The
shortage was due to the fact that it had
been expected the troops would come to
camp supplied with medicines, but some of
them failed in this respect, making a great
er demand than had been counted upon.
Continuing. DR.. Hoff said the capacity OF
the division hospitals was often doubled
and trebled. 1t sometimes occurred that
there were eight men in tents which were
intended should accommodate six, because
Of delay in securing tentage to care for the
increase of disease, which was unexpectedly
- -
were necessarily placed in beds made upon
the floors because of a temporary deficiency
in cots. AS rule. the nurses were without
training, and this fact occasioned some diff
flculty in dealing with typhoid cases. Yet
he knew of no speciiIc cases of suffering on
this account. He specified the case Of q
man afflicted with an infectious disease
who had been compelled to lie In the open
air one night on account Of the lack OF
tentage The captain was sure that no in
jury resulted, as the weather was pleasant
DIR. Hoff said that the shortage of medi-
cal supplies had continued for several
weeks but there was generally sufficient to
meet the immediate demands. He also said
that some acquisitions had been returned
by the Washington authorities because inn
properly filed, and he was under the inn
preston that there had been complaints OF
some suffering on LnlS account. Inero was
considerable delay in securing flooring for
the tents.
WAS there any deprivation on account
of the shortage of tents?'' asked Governor
Woodbury..
1T was reported" responded DR.. Hof.
Whose fault was it?" was asked.
mot mine" he replied. II did all that 1
could do. The troops of the Third Corps
were more closely crowded than they should
have been"
DR.. Connor stated that the Governor OF
Arkansas had complained OF the neglect
of the troops from that State. The witness
replied that the Arkansas troops received the
same medical care and attention that had
been given TO other soldiers under like condi-
tions. He knew Of no case in which men
in the hospitals had been compelled TO lie
on the ground. but he thought there were
probably cases when sick men had been
kept under flies for several days He was
asked If II was true that at night there
was an average of only one nurse to each
forty patients in the hospital Of the Second
Division OF the Third Corps. and said this
could not be true
Dr. Connor read an extract from the let
ter of tho Arkansas Governor saying that