The evening times., 1898-08-27
The Medical Department.

1t is gratifying to discover a dispo-
sition on the part of the medical de-
partment to correct public misunder-
standings in relation to its work. There
is pressing need of the investigation
Surgeon General Sternberg has de-
manded of the, Secretary of War. since
it was by defects in that service at San
tiago and later that the chief suffering
of the army was caused. 1t is SIM
ply question. as to the responsibility
for the trouble, and on this point DR..
Sem and other surgeons are explicit,
placing the blame on the shoulders of
the military officials.
The statement of the surgeon gen.
eral, published this morning. relates
to the charge, based on the assertions
of the Assistant Secretary of War, that
an order issued by the War Depart
ment to enable hospital surgeons to
draw money with which to buy delica-
cies for the sick had not been forward
ed by the surgeon generals office. The
failure of the surgeon in charge of
the Fort Myer hospital to receive
copy of the order was noted as the
basis of the complaint.
His explanation is that the order was,
in fact, sent out, but for some rea-
son not given the surgeon at Fort
Myer did not get it. On learning this.
the surgeon general personally visited
the hospital and explained the orde. to
the surgeon. 1t appears, then, that
there was that much of basis for the
complaint, exactly as stated by The
Times. II was a fair inference, even
if there had been no direct assertion.
that If there were any necessity for
the order the failure of the surgeon to
receive it must cause the suffering or
deprivation its issue was intended to
prevent or cure. As the assistant Sec
retary is not a mind reader, he could
not be expected to know that the
surgeon general had himself conveyed
the gist of the document to Fort Myer.
In comparison with the other charges
this is of little Importance, but it is
encouraging that it should have re-
oeived- such prompt attention. Cen
eral Sternberg has no cause to be in
tacks on the medical service of the
army They are fully warranted by
the positive statements of men who
suffered, and of impartial observers,
whose reports are trustworthy. There
was a lack of hospital representatives
in the long battle and after; lack of
skilled surgeons and a lack of medi-
,al hafn
Santiago; there was a lack OF medical
inspectors in the selection and loading
and equipment of hospital ships to
convey the wounded and sick from
Cuba, and lac. of surgeons, nurses,
medicines and proper food on the
transports that carried the wounded
and sick: there was an appalling lack
of hospital structures and hospital
room and appliances at Montauk Point
for the use of the returning sick SOL
diers. All this caused widespread and
intense suffering and many deaths
among our heroes. There can be nC
doubt as to the facts. The testimony
is overwhelming. If General Stern
berg can show that it was all due to
men and circumstances outside the
authority of his department, it is his
right and duty to do it. AS the mat
ter stands, the medical department
must be held to account until it re-
lieves itself of the respons, ,bility.
So. also, in relation to the ravases
of contagious diseases in the camps
within the States.
If the small matter which drew out
General Sternberg's letter deserves that
degree of attention, these more serious
charges call for more. His demand for
an investigation of the Santiago
charges should be pressed and should
take precedence of that for the Chick
amauga inquiry.