The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-01

I
wards where the convalescent typhoid re-
yer patients were found many OF the men
were constantly asking for FOOD, ana, as
a matter of course, were as constantly
denied every thing except the hsh'er
forms OF food, which can alone be saiely
administered to recovering typhold pa
tients. This refusal OF food throughout
the hospitals, by which care alone. II Is
perfectly understood, can the lives OF W
phosd convalescents be saved, has peeh
distorted into the cry which has beeh |
spread throughout the country that pa t.
tents were being starved In the govern
ment hospitals. There has been no lack OF
proper food in these hospitals, and compe-
tent cooks for preparing 1t have been pres
ent, and the only reason for depriving the |
patients of what so many Of them have |
clamored for has been the necessity of |
such dieting as the disease demands.
II am constrained to believe that there |
has been no neglect on the part OF either
the medical or quartermaster departments
to furnish such supplies as have reached
the camp.
Undoubtedly there have been serious in |
conveniences and, at times, OF the greatest
orowdlng, lack of convensences und run
attendance which go to make up that pam
ful condition of affairs which. as every
veteran knows are inseparable from the
field hospitals of great armies, even when
all concerned exert themselves TO secure
the comfort of the patients. There are con-
ditions which, in times of rapid increase OF
disease--a condition which was reached az
this camp solely in my Judgment from the
filth which too many OF the regimental
officers allowed to dominate their camps, In
spite Of the orders which would have pre-
vented all this trouble from the surgeon
general and from the commanding officers
of this camp-cTeate a situation which can
not lie Immediately ameliorated.
go far from believing a result of
my observations, that medical officers
have been heartless or negligent, | believe
that the officers and the hospital attend
ants. as a whole, have exerted themselves
to discharge their duties faithfully. It
would seem as IL this were sufficiently
shown by the fact that they have work
ed uncea singly until a quarter of the
whole force has Itself been stricken by
disease resulting from thetr exhausting
labors.
my attention was especially directed,
in the order which ] received to some
remarks credited TO Gen Terry, surgeon
general of the state of New York, In
reference TO the condition OF the camp of
the Eighth New York Gen. Terry is re-
ported in the New York Herald to have
said as he was leaving Camp Thomas:
Gen Terry found the camp In bad
sanitary condition. 1t is situated in an
open field, In the hot sun, with no water
to bd found within FIVE miles. The water
the men drink is hauled in barrels and
is of a kind that In New York would be
refused bathing water. This stun Is
| what they drink daily, and Is declared
to be the chief causes of the sickness.
Gen Terry told tne that II was the most
terrible sight he had ever witnessed, and
that in the slums of New York there
could not be found "A place so filthy and
dirty He said ne would insist on the
Eighth Regiment being returned to New
York, and he advised Gov. Black and the
Secretary Of War OF the situation. II the
soldiers are not soon taken from Chick
amauga Park they will soon follow the
twenty-four who died yesterday and near
ly as many to-day. Camp Thomas hospi-
tails are unclean and badly located. Nour-
ishlng food Is lacking as well as proper
medical attention. The food Is regular
army rations, badly cooked. More than
300 patients have often been made to get
along with 100 narrow cots. They are
| simply laid on litters not six inches from
the ground. Few. II any, of the hospitals
have plank floors
This camp was removed TO the open
| field at the special request OF the officers
| concerned. as they We're inclined to think
| that their camp In the open woods had
| something to do with the increasing sick
| ness of the men Here, II may be per-
! tinent to remark In passing, this regiment
| had al the time OF It's moving and had
disgusting canteens 10 be found in the
| entire army From persona observation of
! this cauteen some two weeks since, / am
| prepared TO assert that 1t was little bet
| ter than serving beer TO the soldiers OF
| the Eighth New York In hog pen. It
| is also true that the reports show that
| since this regiment moved It's health con-
| ditions have improved.
'Instead of there being no water within
five miles OF this regiment, two of the
! largest and finest springs OF clear water
| In this entire country, pronounced by COM
| uatent medical and chemical authorities
! to be pure water are less than two miles
| from their camp.
"The Eighth New York has been camped
| upon the ground where Gen. Terry OBJ
! Served IL less than ten days. II was per-
| fectly clean ground when they occupied
/ IT, and had not been previously occupied
by any troops If 1t had been transformed
within this brief period by the troops of
/ the Eighth New York into place hlthier
/ and dirtier than can be found in the slums
OF New York. it will become the ofhcers
of that regiment and the men to explain
how such a transformation could nave
been made by them in this brief space OF
| time.
whether Gen. Terry means that twen-
! ty-1our died in the camp Of the Eighth
| New York or twenty-four In the entire
| camp in one day, and that nearly as many
would de the day of his departure, cannot
| be exactly determined by his form OF
speech but on the day that he Is quoted
| as making this remark the deaths In the
entire army encamped here were seven
and the deaths In the Eighth two days be-
fore his visit (belng the last reporD num-
bered only one which had been the rate
! for several days.
"As TO the hospitals being unclean and
there being a lack of food and the only
food being regular army rations badly
cooked, and other similar conditions, a
sufficient answer Is found in the critical
examination of the hospital division OF
| the First Division, Third Army Corps,
Gen. Frank commanding, set forth above.
This hospital, In charge of Maj. G. M.
Drake, is one OF the cleanest and most
complete which any veteran of the civil
war would expect to see, and this is the
division to which the Eighth New York
| is attached.
In closing, beg leave TO express the
opinion that most OF the interviews with