Evening star., 1898-10-13
THERE WAS SHORTAGE
Lieut.. Col. hoff Describes Conditions
at Camp Thomas.
men CROWDED In HOSPITAL TENTS
For Several Weeks Medicines
Were insufficient.
MAJOR SEAMAN SUMMONED
I CROWDED In HOSPITAL TENTS
MAJOR SEAMAN SUMMONED


| Ga. Col Hon il a regular army officer
having been a surgeon. with the rank OF
major, in the regular army establishment
| He entered the volunteer service Nay 81.
and has since served chief surgeon with
| the 81 Army Corps at Camp Thomas re-
naming with that corps until IL WAS
! reduced in numbers. and was ordered to
Admission, Ala. After the Sd Corus LETT he
remained in Camp Thomas on duty at
headquarters until September II. He then
reported 10 the surgeon general in this city.
where he was taken sick with maIarial
fever and went on sick leave. He is now
under orders to go to Porto Rico
| Ex-Governor Beavcr-'What were the
| qualifications Of the surgeons who reported
| TO you for duty there?'
Col Hoff-''So far their professional
qualifications were concerned. / Wa. i'm
| pressed with their excellence So far as
their military qualifications were concerned
| they simply had no experience"
| Col Hon said that a system of instruc-
ton FOR regimental medical officers was
adopted. Such instruction given at a
| designated place. Surgeons were Instructed
in camp sanitation and in first aid work
| ana things of that kind.
| EX-Gov. Beavcr-"How did the regl-
| mental officers attend to their business?"
Rock Prevented Proper sinks.
Col. Hofr-"I was impressed with the idea
1
best Of their ability. 1 do not think the
camps were in the best possible sanitary
condition. They were in as good condition
as the peculiar circJ instances of the case
| permitted"
Ex-Gov. Beaver-"What do you mean by
the peculiar circumstances of the case per-
| mitted?"
Gel Hof explained that the 30 Army
Corps was camped on ground which rest
| ed On rock. The soil varied in depth from
| eighteen inches to four feet That prevent
| I'd the digging of proper sinks. The sinks
| could not be made deep enough. Later
| TINS rock was blasted. Another trouble
| they had was in getting the men to use
the sinks. That was a trouble with all
| green troops ard he didn't SEE that il could
be prevented altogether. The RESPONSIBILITY
| themselves.
Ex-Gov. Bsaver-"were the medical sup
plies in store at Camp Thomas sufficient
| when the troops arriVed?'
| Col Hon-"At the time of the arrival
| OF the troops there was not full supply
| OF medical stores. They came in as rapidly
| as they could be brought in That def
| cheney, however, was ANTICIPATED by the
| surgeon generals office and in order 10
| meet that shortage 1 have positive knowl-
| edge that the surgeo n general telegraphed
| TO governors of states requesting that they
| send sufficient amount of medical supplies
| with the regiments to last until full sup
| ply OF medicines could be provide by rho
| government After a short time medical
| supplies were exceedingly ample There
was no suffering. so far as 1 know, because
| or lack of supplies
! Some of the regtn ents the Witness sasa
did not come to the camp with sufficient
! medical supplies, and in some of the regi-
ments ne thought medicine was not on
| hand Tor treatment of diarrhoea.
When Typhoid Appeared.
The witness said the first case of typhoid
fever appeared in the Sd Army Corps two
| fhrIa "a
into camp.
| EX-Gov. Beaver--"Did that case originate
in Camp Thomas?'
| Col. Hon-"No, sir The regiment I'm
which it appeared had had typhoid fever
| mauga."
The witness said the hospitals were
crowded after disease began to spread ram
| idly for the reason that they could MOI get
| canvas for tents rapidly enough. Eight
men were frequently in tent during this
| period.
Ex-Gov. Beaver-"Was II necessary, at
| any time 10 put men on the floor because
| OF a lack of beds?"
Col Hoff-''There may have been on one
I.or Two occasions such instances. 1 cannot
state positively. | think il was reported 10
| me that 1t was necessary to make up beds
Tor some sick men on the floor"
Col Hon SAID that one of the greatest
| dlhlculties they had to meet was because
OF Tie lack of trained nurses He did not
| know Of any cases of brutality on tho usrt
| of the nurses.
OF the total number of cases of sick I'm
| the hospitals the mortality had been less
| than l per cent.
| Tents Needed for Six Weeks
Ex-Governor Woodbury-"How long did
| the shortage Of tents you refer to last?"
| Colonel Hoff-'It lasted six weeks
| Know that during July there was a great
| demand for tentage which could not be
met"
| Ex-Governor Woodbury-"Colonel Lee
| chief quartermaster at Camp Thomas tes-
| titled here that he had tents for issue at
| all times TO be given out on acquisitions
made for them. How do you account for
| that?"
Colonel Hofr-"I don't know"
| Ex-Governor Woodbury-"Were your
| acquisitions properly nader
| Colonel Hoff-"1 think they were. l know
they were. 1 had them prepared"
Ex-Governor W Woodbury-"Were sick men
allowed to lie outside OF tents?"
Colonel Hof-'Ip one or wo cases we
| had to keep them outside of tents a short
time"
Ex-Governor Woodbury-''were they al
lowed to lie out during the night time?''
Colonel Hof-"I think so. On one occa-
sion we had a man out at night?"
Ex-Governor Woodbury-"Dld Won go
yourself or send any one to the depot quar-
termaster TO ascertain the reason why YOU
could not be supplied with tents?"
Colonel Hoff-"My impression is that the
quartermaster and division chief surgeon
both sent to ascertain why these tents could
not be secured
Ex-Governor Woodbury-"Did you go
yourself?'
Colonel Hoff-"My impression is / did 20.
Have a marked impression that / wrote a
letter to the corps commander about it,"
Medicines Short for Weeks
Ex-Governor Woodbury-"How MANY
days were you without sufficient medicine
for the sick2'
Colonel Hon-"Probably several weeks.
The shortage was before the acquisitions
were fully accomplished. We did not have
a full supply for several weeks"
Ex-Governor Woodbury-"W classes Of
medicines were you short off"
Colonel Hof-"Medicines for diarrhoea
There was shortage of quiuine at one
time. / received authority from the sur