The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-21
REPORT OF STERNBERG


country would have been greatly ex-
ceeded.
II is needless at this time to refer to
the complaints Of starvation which app
pcared almost daily in the newspapers
during the occupation OF Camp Wikoff.
II is now generally understood that
the weakness. prOstration. anacmia and
emaciation of So many of the troops
were the results of malarial. typhoid
and yellow fever. from which the army
suffered as a consequence of its eX-
posure To the climatic influences and
local infections of Santiago and its
neiehborhood pending and subsequent
to the surrender of the city.
Troops i'm the home Camps-the
method Of hospital organization in
these camps was practically the same;
aud there was much similarity in the
conditions affecting them and Corre-
spondingly in their history. Regiments
reported in but few instances with the
material and supplies for their medical
care: but they brought sick men with
them and these required immediate
care. Provision had to he made for
division hospitals in view Of future field
service and for reEimental hospitals in
view VI the liIliIltulult neCtSSNN.
As rule the hospitals were kept i'm
campaigning condition that is. the
tents were neither framed nor fioored
until the increased prevalence of ty-
| phod fever attracted attention to their
! crowded condition, when the object of
/ their existence became suddenly
! changed from school for field service
| to a hospital for the treatment of
| local outbreak of disease.
| GENERAL HOSPITALS.
General hospltals--rp to September
/ 50. Eleven general hospitals were cs-
| tabli9hed and fully manned ana equip
! ped Those had q capacity of nearly
! 1000 beds. At the same time certain
| post hospitals having good aCCommn-
! datiOns We're used for the treatment of
! army cases generally without dltera
| lion of their official status as post hos
| piili. OF LIS deaths from May To
! September 90, were ocCasiOncd by
| typhoid fever: ~ Ny malarial fey erS
! aud 393 were dianhOCu and dysenteTN.
The death rates for May ana June. Al
and 20. were not in excess of those
| of the army in time ot peace. IN
! July the rate became somewhat higher
| for cities, 2l5 for the month, or the
| equivalent Cf an annual rate of Sj.SC
| per thousand living. In August it be-
| came excessive. A.0S for themonth equaI
! to an annua rate of 1896 per thousand
than that Of the most well cared
90 an annual rate of 1896 per thOuS-
and. In September the influence of the
energetic measures taken in July nnd
! August to improve the health of the
army becomes manifest in the falling
rf Of the death to rate to IA. or tho
equivalent of an annual rate of 29.iG
The exposures Of the regular troop:
during the Santiago campaign gave
them from June to September higher
death rate than the volunteers ant
that the rate of the latter during Au
gust, the month ut maximum mortal
! ity, was So as compared with J.S
among the regular troops,
Volunteer relief Work.-Nly guidins
principle throughout the war has beel
that relief when needed should b,
promptly accepted without rcferCnC
/ to the cumSe fTCm which IL came
The relief afforded by the Nationa
! Red Cross At SibOnCy was prompt,
accepted by the surgeons ON the spot
but it was evident that IL ives entire
| " Inadequate to meet the emergency
other organizations which have rem
dered very valuable service are tn
National Relief commission, haNin
headquarters al Philadelphia, and tn
Massachusetts Volunteer Aid associa
tion.
The medical cu"pS--l3efore conclud
ing my report on tn" operations a
the medical department, ! feel il m
duty to call special attention to th
efficient services rendered hy the med
iCal officers nt the army In the Varou
responsible, positions which the tx
. | gencivs OF ,hc service have made
! necessary for them t. ri