The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-01
lis Dangers Set Forth by Major
Parker, Sanitary Inspector.
CHICEAMAUGA PARK NOT FIJI FUN
CAMPING PLACE.

Sanitary Appiiances-E'hs Ancreaseo
= nv Tgnorauce of the Volunteering
ures which Tell TIL cir Own Story.
Chattanooga Tenn, Aug. 27.-General
Breckinridge few days ago ordered Ma
jor Parker, Sanitary Inspector on his
staff to Immediately visit all the camps
in the park. besides all points there in
possible, and make to him thorough re-
port as to the cause of SO much sickness,
etc. Major Parker this afternoon COM
pleted his report. which is as follows:
"Camp Geo. Fl. Thomas. Aug. 81.
"To the Adjutant General, Camp
Thomas:
.sSir: I have the honor to report that
the condition now prevalent here appears
to call for the immediate abandonment of
this camp. Since July IS the sick report
here has increased from week to week as
follows:
"July 25, 2,226.
august 1, 2,975.
"August 8, 1851.
august Is, 1926.
"August IS, 1884
= 'sThese last figures do not include over
/ 300 men for sickness since July IS and
twenty mine discharged. The strength OF
command now is about $4,000. An In
spection Of these figures will show that
the number of sick men in this camp
increases each week by one-fourth At
this rate of progression the sick will soon
reach a number which, with present
facilities, it will be impracticable to
handle.
CAUSES OF SICKNESS.
"The causes of this undue rate of sick-
ness. in my opinion, are as fellows:
"This park, I think it can be shown,
is not fitted to be a camping place for
troops.
"First, the park is mainly forest.
with occasional openings only. These
openings afford very limited space for
the exercise of the troops, grand man
euvers being almost out of the question.
To preserve these open spaces for drills,
etc.. seemed to necessitate that the troops
should camp in the woods Such camps
are not healthful. Being largely in the
shade of the tents and the ground around
them remaining damp, the salutary action
of sunlight on germ organisms is shut off,
the free movement of air, which would
otherwise assist in the drying process is
prevented. ~
"The disadvantages of camping in the
woods are especially apparent during the
rainy season, but I think it may be said
in general that it has been found that
such camps are Objectionable and that
the rule has been in the regular army al
ways, if possible, to camp on grounds ex-
posed to the sun. This rule was adhered
ito by the regular troops when they were
concentrated here this spring, but when
the volunteers came here, the necessity
of preserving drill grounds. the number
of the troops, and also the fact that the
open spaces had already been largely used
for camps by the regulars. prevented the
example of the regulars from being fol-
lowed.
DISEASE-BREEDIN SOIL.
''Again, the soil is not adapted to
camping. 1t is, as rule, tenacious clay.
Such soil does not absorb Stops, dirty
water, grease and filth, etc. which it is
impossible to keep from the ground in a
closely packed camp, and the are not
carried into the lower strata by the subse-
quent rains, but are confined to the thin
layer of mold one or two inches thick,
which lies on the surface.
"This surface layer, in consequence, in
O short time becomes thoroughly infected,
breeding disease; further, in heavy rains
the area of the ground is enlarged. Es-
peciaIly is this the case with the ground
in the neighborhood of camps where re-
fuse is thrown, which must become over
a large area soaked with a solution OF
manure, garbage and rotting refuse of
all kinds. Owing to the great number
of camps and of dumps, which are usual
ly placed one hundred yards or more from
the camps, very large area of the park
Is now impregnated from this cause
alone, and much of it is rendered ncisome
from the foul odors resulting.
... DRINKING WATER IMPURE.
"The clay soil of the park is underlaid
with magnesium limestone Magnesi um
limestone and clay are regarded by COM
petent authorities as one of the worst
combinations possible for a ca mping
ground. (See Bachs Manual of Field
Engineering Part 45s. 1t is character
istic of magnesium limestone that in it
are always found sink holes where the in
fected fluids from the ground flow and
are stored, exposed to the air like open
cesspools, breeding typhoid fever and
other diseas SEES. Further, the nagnesia
affects the water injuriously.
"Water-It was peculiar feature of
this camp that all troops on arriving here
were at once affected with diarrhoea
Practically none escaped, whether officers
ct men, veterans or recruits. This intes-
final arrangement kept up for two or
three weeks, sometimes longer, and there
can be no doubt that in many cases by
weakening and deraDging the system it
paved the way for more serious ailments.
1t can also be relied on that this diar-
rhoea Is due to the water, though what
the constituent is that produces this
effect Is matter of controversy. In the
last two or three months typhoid fever
has made it's appearance here and the
number of cases is now large and con-
stantly increasing.
SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY.
1T is believed that this disease is also
largely propagated by infected water.