New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-04
THE ARMY INVESTIGATION.
FORMER CHEF SURGEON OF CANT
THOMAS EXAMINED.
rur, SICKNESS. IN HIS OPINION. DUE LARGELY
TO INTERFERENCE AND INEFFIcIENcY

THE SICKNESS IN HIS OPINION. DUE LARGELY
TO INTERFERENCE AND INEFFIcIENcY
OF MEDICAL AND LINE OFFICERS
Washington Nov. 3-Dr. a. Hartsun who was
chief surgeon Of the Army at Camp Thomas. from
April 81 to July 81. was examined to-day ny Oolohei
DENLY. OF the War Department Investigating Com
mission concerning the conduct OF the camp from
a medical point OF view. He criticised various teat-
ures in the management OF the camp beginning
with the location OF some OF the regiments. lie
said that the park was on general principles n
good camp ground. but that some OF the regiments
were located in swampy sections and others on
rocky ground where 1t impossible TO get the
sinks OF sufficient depth. In other cases the camp
was poorly drained and I'm most Instances the tents
were too close together He said that the sites were
selected by General Brooke. and. Notwithstanding
his own position chief medical officer. he had
not been consulted in regard to the location. He
had made formal protest AT the time, but II was
not needed.
Dr. Hartsur took positive ground against the
establishment Of division hospitals Mt the expense
Of the regiments. lie thought division or ned
hospital was a necessity bat did not ;hnf it should
be built up as AZ present. taking surgeons Stew
ards and ambulances from the regiments.
"Do you" asked Colonel Dcnby. think the es-
tablishment OF division hospitals bad policy
VERY bad done replied the witness
"CoulGn't YOU as chief medical officer have con-
trOllCd the natter. IL " az asked
no. sir; it was order Of the Secretary OF
War and unde- this order no regimental hospital
could be maintained"
He thought this order unfortunate, that In carry
ing il into cffc-t the work OF caring for the sick
was greatly intorfered with and that no one was
benefited by it,
Dr. Harisuff also express ID the opinion that the
water supply Of the camp was not good. Another
feature OF the camp system which he criticised was
aIiowing c,ch regiment 10 have a ref, So dump ~
its own. This had rendered the camp oblccuonipe
from hygionic point of Wow. lie hid recon
mendcd to General Brooke the cremation Of Inc
garhagr. bat tn recommendation had nor beei
acted on. In reply question from oioh'l
Dapbv he said Il rcedcal Officer cOnld hot execute,
but only recommend. He attributed tho failure TO
adopt his recommendation TO IN" cohiuS."l "'i-
don't Ia preparing . great army for the n"ld
Asked If the volunteer surgeons under nm were
comnctrnt DR. Ilarisuff replied that some were;
while others were not. The great dlIilculitEi H!u
becn to sccur, men OF administrative abilty To
conduct the hospitals He thought there nad been
suffering because Of this ignorance ana insiancef
one ease In which he had found a nE nosplldi
practically Of food hecdIse none OF the surgeons
connected with it knew how TO MAKE Il ration re-
turn. ,,, - .,-t -,
IN. sickness at Camp Thomas was due largely 20
the ineXLcrience. ard in many cases, the mem
cheney of the medical officers and also 10 the IN
efficiency and mex Derierce or line oincers, VINO
al not furnish the support they shoun nav"
furnishol 10 tho Medical Department. Inc exc
cutjon OF any plan Of operation rests largely win
the line officers the duties of the surgeons peihS
limited to recommendations. Iney are therefor -
unable TO correct abuses themselves. ana must o.
nand uDon others to do that This applies 70 inc
officers OF regiments as well as 10 gehetd oH'c'S'