Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-31
OUR SICK IN PORTO RICO
Report of National Relief Commission
Brought to Philadelphia.
SAYS DISEASE INCREASES.
Over One Thousand Men Ill When Steamer
Bearing Report Left - The Need
Of Arranging Barracks at
Once Is Urged.

Philadelphia, Aug. 81. - The yacht
May, which has just arrived in this city
| from Porto Rico, via Newport News.
brought the report of the representa-
| tives of the national relief commission.
ex-Minister to Italy William Potter,
William Van Rensselaer,, Louis Vanux-
EN- and DR.. G. G. Graft, who went to
Porto Rico to superintend the dstribu-
ton of supplies.
The May, which was loaned to the
government by Mr. Van Rensselaer,, left
this city on Aug. and reached Ponce,
Porto Rico, Aug. II. The report states
that the commissioners reported to Cen
eral Miles and were by him referred to
Colonel Greenleaf, chief surgeon Of the
army in the field.
Colonel Greenleaf ordered the medical
supplies to be taken from the May and
placed in the custom house, which Is
now the headquarters Of the army in
Porto Rico. After giving the details of
the distribution Of the supplies the re-
port says:
'In almost every instance we found
the army surgeons most anxious to have
at their disposition money for the pur-
chase of needed luxuries for the sick,
ble) and canned goods, and we are hap
py to report that in every case we have
been able to meet the demands made
upon us.
Many on the Sick List.
'"There are about $4,000 American SOL
diers in Porto Rico, and on the day Of
our departure, Aug. o. there were over
1000 men on the sick list. OF this num-
Der one-half We're cases requiring
prompt and careful treatment. There
was large number of typhoid cases,
but on the 22d inst. this disease was not
on the increase, a fact which indicated
that the malady had been carried from
the camps at home and was not indig-
enous to Porto Rico.
However, there was a very large in
crease in diarrhea, dysentery, dengue
or break bone fever and malarial disor-
ders, due to the hot, unhealthy rainy
season, just commencing, which causes
the water supply to be filled with ma
larial germs from the constant decaying
vegetation.
"All medical authorities in the army
in Porto Rico agree that the sick list
is increasing and that an alarming con-
dition may be expected unless the war
department promptly arranges barracks
for the army of occupation and imme-
diately provides additional transports
(the hospital ship Relief being INSULT
cienD to remove such of the sick as can
be safely transferred home, the conva-
lescents and those enervated by eli
matte conditions. 1t is impossible for
men from a northern climate to recu-
perate in tropical country during its
most unhealthful season.
Well Timed Aid.
I'm conclusion, we are glad to report
that we reached Porto Rico with our
medical and hospital supplies just at
the time when they were most needed.
as, owing to the lack of steam launches |
with which to unload the vessels in the
harbor and those hard aground on the !
coral reef the medical department could |
not secure it's supplies promptly, and |
our consignment had been most careful |
ly selected, containing many useful ar
ticles not supplied in the hospital equip
ment of the United States army.
1--WE cabled to the national relief COM
mission on the 22d inst. to forward to
Porto Rico consignment of light gro
ceries, such as condensed cream, &C.
iSdlS, CdIlueu SOupS, CldII DTOCIl, ETC.,
also pyjamas and Undertaking, all of
which are much needed In the hospitals
and are not obtainable on the island"
Attached to the report is letter from
General Miles thanking the commission
ars on behalf Of the army for the sup
plies and for big consignment of
American flags; also letter from Colo
lel Greenleaf expressing thanks for the
gift of an icemaling machine. in which
he says:
II cannot adequately express the sat
sfacton with which the results of this
donation will be received by the sick.
ce in this country is an expensive lux
Try, costing $50 per ton in Porto Rican
money, which necessitates the exercise
If rigid economy on the part of our
medical officers in it's use. To have the
output of such a machine at our dis
,osal Is a blessing, the benefits of which
an only be appreciated by those who
AVE served in those hospitals"
TELEGRAPH FRANCHISES.