Evening star., 1898-12-08
THE MEDICAL CORPS
Surgeon General Sternberg Tells of
Its Work in the Field.
CONDITION At OUTSET OF TIE WAR
Division and RegimentaI Hospitals
Explained at Length.
c A NJ p ms CTION

Surgeon General Sternberg was the first
witness TO appear before the war inquiry
commission this morning. DR.. Conner led
the examination. Surgeon General Stern
berg said he commenced his preparations
Tor the troops as soon he was aware of
the critical condition of things. With re-
gard TO the condition of his department
he stated that 1t was equipped only for an
army of 25.oo0 men when war broke out.
From year to year Congress had cut down
his estimates, following the policy of econ
omy Continuing, he said:
The medical corps of the army had been
cut down in spite of my protest and that OF
every general officer of the army"
As soon as there was a prospect of war
he said, he began preparations, though not
going TO any additional expense. He had
models Of chests prepared and equipment
developed.
81 suggested to Secretary Alger the pro-
prlety Of making purchases for this service
in advance of actual need. l was told that
the policy was to wait
The witness stated that when war was
declared five officers of his department
were appointed chief surgeons and others
We're made brigade Surgeons upon his
recommendation. But there was not
enough to supply the need. None Of the
volunteer appointments were made aft,r
examination.
Was it or was it not necessary that
contract physicians be employed 20
1T was necessary"
How many were there?"
AT one time there were about G5n. They
were appointed on the strength of profess
Siona! and other indCrse ments."
How did they meet the requirements
Contract Surgeons Did Well.
Remarkably well. They were generally
thoroughly posted medical men. with large
experience in general practice. they were
between thirty and forty years Of age. and
generally were well recommended ana pro-
fessionaIIy indorsed."
Witness said he was ignorant in advance
that the camps were to be made l.crma-
nent. He conceded that it was a mistake
from among those who had served in the
civil war. They would have been inval-
liable.
Under the law was it possible TO bring
into service the retired officers Of the
army?'
1t was not"
How many medical men accompanied
the eXpeditionary forces under Gen. Shaf-
Ter to Cuba?"
There Were thirty-slX regular surgeons.
twenty contract surgeons and the fun COM
plement with each Of the volunteer regi-
mentS.'
vi lnfSe ION HdllN were taken WIN
administrative work, and how many were
available for active service?'
There was the chief surgeon OF each
division, who was charged with the admin
istrative work. and at the same time
obliged, upon emergencies, to render active
and immediate aid
do you know of any Instances where the
recommendations Of the chief surgeons
Were not carried out?'
mo. SIR
Were regimental surgeons capable or
efficient?'
Good. bad and Indifferent" responded
the surgeon general. Il don't recollect,
however, any being dismissed as incompe-
tent
As to the medical boards in the states
he was questioned if they were satisfactory
or not
They varied. Some were and some were
not"
The Division Hospitals.
He said the division hospitals were estab-
iished as the result of tests and expert
ences during the civil war. The reasons for
separating the regimental and division hos
pitfalls were many. Chief was the consider
alton that Inconvenience would result from
the necessity to leave regimental hospitals
and surgeons behind in case the regiments
We're moved away, and also the greater
danger Of infection in cases of typhoid and
cCnta glouS diseases if confined in many
hospitals instead Of one. II made work
easier where the patients were in one d.
vision hospital instead Of In the nine reg1-
mental places. The division hospitals were
intermediate in character between the gen.
eral and the regimentaL If troops were
believed to be likely TO be i'll a long time
they were sent to the general hospitals.
These latter were always I'm charge Of reg
ular medical officers of the army, not The
volunteer arm.
Was there or not corps Of medical in
. pectors?'
There was not
Witness told of the inspection of sanitary
conditions at Camp Alger by Lieut.. Col.
Smart and of the camps in Porto Rico by
Col. Greenleaf Then he called for the ap-
pointment of a sanitary commission made
up of medical men from the regular army.
This was the commission to which Dr.
Shakespeare Of Philadelphia belonged and
it instructed to look into and report
upon the insanitary condition of camps.
Was this inspection of the camps made
before the storm broke. or. l should say,
before the epidemics existed?'
inspections were made early far as
some camps Were concerned, but not so far
as Camp Thomas is in question
Isolation of Fever Cases.
Was 1t prior to the epidemics and during
The period of. scattered cases that effort
was made to isolate fever cases from regi-
mental hospitals?"
The great trouble was that in many
camps ana Camp Thomas especially there
WAS Il ldlluTe 10 proper diagnoses.
Men were kept in hospitals suffering from
typhoid very evidently, but stated to be
sick with malaria and other minor troubles
by the regimental surgeons. Typhoid and
malaria were too often confounded. There
is no doubt that the sickness increased so
rapidly that the men in charge at the
camps were unable to anticipate IT, At
the outset of the war the plan was that
division hospitals were to accommodate no
more than 80 men. but 1t was quickly
found that their size was entirely made
quate"
Questioned as TO sanitary precautions,
the witness stated: I'VE impressed upon
the medical officers, the line officers OF the
army, that they should not incur reproach
for insanitary conditions at camps"
1t has been reported that at Camp
it was practically impossible 10 get
quicklime for disinfecting purposes. Do
you know anything of it?'
mo, sir. / don't think any application
was made to me that was not allowed at
once l think every application for quick
lime or other disinfectants was promptly
approved by me. The general instructions
to my corps authorized the general and
nf .1f.f,,