The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
That Hospital Investigation.
From tbe Litsle Rock Democrat

- fNA4%-sA4 - u
investigate the division hospital abuses
Al Camp Thomas have forwarded their
report 70 Washington. Many of the
sworn statements are made by Arkan-
sas troops. which places all charges be-
yoni the imputation Of sensationalism.
The first witness called was Colonel
Elias Chsrdler. Of the First Arkansas,
who stated that he had made daily Wis
is . the hospital because of the com
plaint Of the i'll treatment Of patients
in the measles ward. in which were
members Of his regiment. He cited the
case Of Private Simms, who was To-
Gated in a measles ward. Colonel
Chandler found him suffering with
pneumonia. Simms was in great pain
and had no medicine from II 0 clock at
night until 9 0 clock the next day. 1t
had been raining and the water ran
through the tent. thoroughly wetting
the ground and soaking the bedding in
which the sick man lay.
= asked permission, said Colonel
Chandler, to put up habitable tent
for the sick man and did so. Twenty
four hours later he was moved TO it and
twelve hours after that he died. The
excuse given for not moving him sooner
was because the ground was so wet
But this could have made no difference,
because there was no floor in the tent
and the water from the hillsides drained
through all the tents. No trenches had
been dug around them and the water
poured in stream through the tents in
which the sick men lay.
Il have gone through these tents
and repeatedly found men who declared
To me that they had been there twenty
four hours and had received no atten-
tention from any physician. l have
talked TO men who had been in the
hospital a week and who could not
bathe themselves and who stated to me
that they were wearing the same clothes
they were when they entered the hos
pital.
Il have been to the measles ward
when they had $50 patients and found
not more than three nurses. and the
patients complained that they could
not get water and food. | have been
there after meal times and heard com
plants that the patients had had abso-
lutely nothing to eat. These complaints
were male in the presence of Surgeons
Bradbury and Jenne. l found Private
Smith. of my regiment, in filthy con
dition. He was very sick. Majors
Sehooler and Burgin were in charge of
the hospital. have visited the hos
pital al II 0 clock in the morning. and
have seen the water patients had to
drink. 1t was muddy and warm.
There was no ice.
The vicinity of the wards was in a
dirty condition. Fruit peelings, pieces
Of meat and bread and refuse of all
kinds were scattered in and among the
tents, together with the camp sweep
ings.
The Rev. William Cross, chaplain of
the First Arkansas, testified that he
had not missed visiting the Second Di-
vision hospital for day since it started.
At the beginning everything was in con
fusion. There was neither ice, milk
nor nourishment Of any kind for the
sick. Men were neglected and died Of
neglect Private White had bad chill
following an afternoon drill. He was
sent to the hospital and was without
medical attention until the next day,
when he was found in comatose CON
dition as if under the influence of
morphine.
Il went for Colonel Chandler. When
we returned White cot was empty.
Later on we found him lying in the
bushes on the ground. A nurse had
covered his face with newspaper and
was leaning against a tree reading.
That night White was taken to the
Letter hospital and died next day.
Chaplain Cross cites other cases and
| finishes his testimony by saying Il
have no hesitancy in saying that in this
hospital great indifference has been
shown for the needs of patients by ply
sicians. Patients were irregularly, in
sufficiently nourished and both doctors
and nurses were neglectful. The sani
tary condition of the hospital prior to
the middle of July was frightful. -
] Corporal John E. Berhart of the
First Arkansas, had the measles. He
testified that he was in the hospital
! for eight days and in that time received
no medical attention whatever. He
had to fight for something to eat at meal
! times and was served with tainted
pork, potatoes and coffee. Finally he
sent to his company and was furnished
| food from there. Sometimes the worst
patients were served with light diet,
but most Of the time with regular army
rations. The wards were so crowded
that one night he was compelled to
sleep ont of doors on litter. Major
Hubbard he testified, would compel
sick men to get ont of their beds and
stand at attention when he went through
/ the ward.
Here follow several cases in which
the testimony is of so foul character