Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-20
THE WAR INQUIRY.
aS,oursroKEy WITNESS on HospI-
TAI AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
CONTRACT SURGEONS CONDEMNED.
Also the Men In the Hospital Corps
DIR. Frye Says Latter Are "ene-
rally 81 "scabby-LookinS h"'
Administration Compiimented.

JACKSONVILLE FLA. october -
The war investigating commission held
SITS sessions in the City Hall to-day. ex-
aiming a large number Of regimental
and other officers. ono Of the most out
spoken witnesses OF the day was Dr.
FRYE. OF the Third Division Hospital. lie
condemned some OF the methods in vogue
in the hospitals and said that in many
cases the contract physicians and mem
beers Of the hospital corps were incompe-
tent.
The commission has decided that one Of
Its members should be in the commission
Office. at Washington. and Colonel DENLY
has been designated Tor this service. lie
Was selected largely for the reason that
his health has not been 50 robust heie
as when in Washington.
The commission began It's Work to-day
with Major Noble IL. Croager, depot quar-
termaster, on the stand. lie said there
had never been any serious shortage OF
supplies In the Seventh corps, and was
suro that that there had been no suffer
ing caused by a deficiency Of supplies. In
tho beginning OF the history OF the camp
there had been some complaint as 10 the
quality OF clothing but there had been
an Improvement IN this respect IN recent
months He had also had some little diin-
Guilty in securing a proper assortment OF
sizes. but had been able TO meet the de-
mands OF the men IN this respect.
COMPLIMENTS FOR ADMlNISTRA-
TON.
gresham James r. Campbell, colonel OF
the Ninth Illinois Volunteers, who was
questioned in regard TO the general treat
1nent OF the troops in the field and asked
for suggestions for the benefit OF the
service. lie spoke in complimentary
terms Of the administration Of the offices
Of the army. saying that acquisitions Of all
kinds had been promptly filled, ana that
the quality OF the articles supplied was
generally good. There had been some
complaint. however, as 10 the character
Of the refrigerator beef, but on investiga-
lion II had developed that while the meat
had been received I'm good order 1t had
spoiled because OF exposure in hot Wea-
fhcr. The difficulty was overcome by eX-
changing the beef for ham. no fresh beet
now being taken by the regiment. Colo
mel Campbell contributed the opinion that
The principal cause Of sickness in camp
was the drilling in the early morning
when the dew was on the ground.
lie had no suggestion 20 make beyond
a request that his regiment be supplied
with the Krag-Jorgensen rifles. lie also
complained Of the red-tape methods Of
The army. but made no specifications.
lie said there were very few Of his
men who were now home sick.
Lieutenant Moore, acting commissary
of the Ninth Illinois. was questioned in
regard to the quality of rations. lie said
there had been no difficulty, except as 10
The fresh beef, apd agreed with Colonel
Campbell that there had been no trouble
on account Of meat since the arrange
ment had been made TO take cured hams
instead of beef.
Lieutenant Tolliver quartermaster Of
the same regiment also testified favor
ably as 10 the quality and quantity Of
the supplies reaching the command. He
thought the tent material poor but had
made no requlstion for other tents.
HOSPITAL CONDITIONS.
DR.. r. d. Frye, major and executive
officer Of the Third Division Hospital
testified as TO the management OF the
Second Division Hospital at Montauk
Point from which place he was trans
ferred TO this camp and the military
hospital at Fort Mcpherson, Ga, where
he was also stationed for time
lie said the Montauk patients had lack
ed for nothing, and We're eXcellently
taken care of by both physicians and
nurses. At Fort Mcpherson there were
at one time 92j patients. There was no
material shortage in drugs or food at
this point. but occasionally there was a
slight deficiency which was, however.
I ltr ~ hot
pital I'm which he is engaged here, he
said the location was as good as could
be secured I'm this vicinity. but that the
general surroundings were nv suitable
20 hospital service. At times the hospital
had been slightly oyercrowded. as many
as seven or eight men being occasionally
stored In one tent. This was due TO emer-
gency. The patients, however, had been
well cared for by both physicians and
nurses. and the hospital supplies were
abundant and good. Many OF the nurses
were females. They were generally very
competent. There was always one nurse
on duty for every three patients, on the
average. Up 10 date. LOO patients had
been treated at the hospitals. There had
only been seventy-three deaths About 90
per cent OF the cases were from typhoid
fever. This was a smaller per cent. Of
mortality than IN c!vil life.
CAUSES OF TYPHOID FEVER.
Resuming his testimony. Dr. Frye spoke
of the causes Of the prevalence of ty-
phoid fever in the Jacksonville camp. He
attributed ii largely TO the age of the
men. young people being more susceptible
10 IL than those of more advanced age.
He also thought much was due TO the
Of the men themselves.
Dr. Frye said that in all the hospitals
with which he had been connected there
had been a deficiency OF bed-linen. This
had been especially true at Fort Nc
Pherson. There lad been orders TO pre-
pare beds there for a thousand patients,
but this demand had by no means been |
met The hospital here had also been |
short OF lighting facilities. There was |
not a suficiency OF candles or lanterns. |
acquisitions had been made for them, |
but they could not be secured from the |
government stores. Hence It was ne |
ccssary 10 depend upon the Red-Cross |
Society for these articles.
Or. Frye expressed the opinion that I'm !
several cases convalescents had been /
sent away from the hospitals with which |
he had been connected before they were |
sufficiently advanced TO be permitted to |
30 in safety. He had. no personal knowl- |
edge of any individual case Of this kind. |
but he was satisfied that such cases had |
occurred. He thought these instances |
were due TO insufficient supervision, 90
the ignorance OF physicians. and to a de-
sire 10 clear the wards of the hospitals |
for new patients.
HOSPITAL CORPS "SCABBY."
Or. Frye spoke in very uncompliment-
AIRY terms Of the men engaged In the |
81