Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-11-10

cred. In fact, brief conversation with
many of the physicians now at the hos
pitfalls will convince anyone of their
limited qualifica tions, although. on
the other hand, some of the best men
in the profession have accepted minor
positions and are hard at work in de-
tached branch hospitals.
source OF criticism at the present
time is the fact that by the movement
OF troops from camp to camp it was
found necessary to leave many who
became too sick TO move at branch
hospitals hastily constructed along
the road. There are such tents scat
tered all through the country from
Tampa to New York. While the pa
tients at regimental hospitals were
generaIIy able to move with their
regiments some of those a the division
hospitals had to remain behind. Thus
at Camp Alger, where 10000 troops
went away to various places, 20 pa
tients, in charge of few surgeons and
attendants, had to be left way out in
the woods between Falls Church and
Wedderhurn Va. At Bristoe and
other places few sick men remained
behind N desolate country.
1t has been suggested that all these
hospitals be consolidated at the gen.
era1 hospitals, such as those al For.
Myer. Fort Mcpherson and Fort
Thomas. While a regimental or d.
vision hospital may receive only the
patients of its own orga ton, from
which the surgeons are selected, gen.
eral hospitals are for the use of any
troops in the United States service.
The general hospitals are excellent.
Fort Myer has now about 35 pa tients.
many of whom on returning to their
regimentaf mess have told me that
they wished themselves back to the
flesh pots of Egypt. The general hos
pitfalls are regularly established in
situations pertaining to the regular
army, and that is the secret of their
superiority, for, though the volunteer
officers have meant well, it has been
a problem almost beyond human DOW
er to properly systematic the enor-
nous volunteer organiza tons in anv
of its branches in so short a period
At the Fort Myer hospital every room
has been utilized for the patients, and
even the riding school was converted
into ward. the largest hospital ward
ever used in this country.
In speaking of private charity. one
IOS AOA SOOQ S3lQaTlfanS
of the geutler sex What woman has
done to alleviate the suffering of thou
sands and thousands of soldiers no his
tory can ever record; but those who
have suffered and have seen the suf-
fering know of their great and noble
work. The funds that bought the
lee cream and champagne al Montauk
were secured by and through the eff
forts Of women; the transported ton OF
patients to better quarters was large
" the work OF women's orgariza tions.
When ii was learned that the soldiers
were Gent from camp to camp with
half-sfck men among them, crowded
into day coaches and fed al half ra-
tions and 21 cents coffee money for
"a hours, kind-hearted women met the
trains al every station with refresh
ments for the hungry and pillows and
cushions for the sick. This method OF
comforting soldiers on transports has
been organized into a regular prac-
tice at every station from Fernandina.
Fla, to New York city.
E. T. GUNDLAcH.
Do good by stealth and blush to snd
il fame.-Pcpe.