The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-09
STERNBERG
AS A WITNESS.
Rigid|y Examined by the War
Investigating Board.
EQUIPPED FOR ONLY $4,000 MEN
That Was Condition Of Medical Department
at Outbreak Of the War.
REQuISITIoNs PROMPTLY FILLED.
UnhsaIty Condition Of tho Troops Brought About
BY Lack Of SANITARY Precautions Female
Nurses Proved an Expensive Luxury.

Washington, Dec 9.-The conduct of
The medical service of the army was
taken up yesterday by the war investi-
eating commission, and Surgeon Cen
eral Sternberg was rigidly questioned
about his administration. The medical
department, he said, was equipped only
for an army of $4,000 when the war
broke out, and from year TO year the
estimates he had submitted had been
materially reduced by congress. AS
soon as there was a prospect of war he
had begun preparations, though not
making any expense. When he sug-
gested to Secretary Alger the propriety
of making purchases for his service,
'the policy was to- wait" He said at
one time there were as many as 650
contract surgeons employed. He con-
ceded il was mistake not to have APP
pointed more contract surgeons from
those who had experience in the civil
war. for their experience would have
been invaluable, but he was ignorant
at the outset OF the permanency or the
camps.
Threshing over the controversy be-
tween regimental and division hospitals
he credited the establishment or the
latter TO their success in two years eN-
perience in the civil war He could not
recollect whether the chief surgeon at
Camp Thomas had reported that the
sanitation there was bad. The depart
ment now. he said. has ample evidence
that typhoid cases during the war were
largely mistaken for malarial fever un-
til the division hospitals received the
cases and that malaria also had been
diagnosed as typhoid.
Gen. Sternbergs reoollections We're
that prior TO the inspection tour which
was made of the camps by Secretary
Alger Quartermaster Gen. Ludngton
and himself the information I'm his
hands of insanitary conditions at camp
Thomas was unofficial He said that
with time IL was practicable 10 secure
a fairly large number of nurses, but
their training took, time, and he ad-
mitted, in war time, might be at the
expense of the patients. He acknowl-
edged the services of volunteer aid as
sociations and said the trained female
nurses were satisfactory, though he had
received some reports To the contrary
Witness admitted a real deficiency in
medical supplies at time. At Santiago
their landing was delayed owing to
exigency OF the times, and railroads
failed to get them through in time at
other points. He contended, however.
that there had been very little lack OF,
medical supplies during the war, the
great difficulty being that surgeons fire.
quently preferred other than the field
supply" and an unanticipated typhoid
fever outbreak had so considerably
taxed the field resources. Purchases,
however, had been made largely from
hand to mouth. due TO lack of storage
facilities and lack of time for calling
a tl,n min a.tr Al GrllerS Ch
be available for purchase in large
quantities on demand. He thought II
would save time 10 have medical sup
plies shipped directly to the surgeon in
charge at destination. without depend
ing on the quartermaster generals de-
partment for transportation, as was
now necessary. Delays frequently had
been caused through want of delivery
TO the proper officer.
There was animated discussion over
delay in outftting the John English.
which was purchased May IS as a hos
pital ship. Gen. Sternbefg said that
after her purchase there was a lapse
of three weeks during which no work
had been done; that she sailed for Cuba
on the date Of the battle of Santiago.
and that had she sailed five days sooner
the medical supplies at the battle
ground would have been ample. The
witness refused to say that the delay
was unnecessary, or to state on whom
the responsibility should rest. Asked
If il had been officially reported TO him
that there were surgeons at Montauk
unitted for duty because Of bad habits.
he said there had been one who drank
who caue from Fortress Monroe and
who was now on duty at Jefferson bar
racks.
Surgeon General Sternberg. concern
ing the relative merits OF division and
regimental hospitals, said that while
experience had taught a good deal. the
theories Of the department as to medi-
cal administration We're borne out i'm
the main. Coming to the history Of the
Santiago movement. Gen. Sternberg eN-
planned that there had been an abupd-
ance OF medical officers and supplies
sent TO Santiago. and said the trouble.
as far as he could Judge. arose in their
landing and distribution. He said en-
phatically that he could do no more i'm
his office than send supplies where he
thought they were needed and respond
promptly To reduisitions. All this. he
declared most positively. had been done.
Cen. Beaver asked: Were you at
pnv time hampered in the discharge of
the duties Of YOUR office by any of your
superiors i'm the department."
Cen. Sternbere hesitated considerably
end said: mo. certainly not to any
apnreciahle extent"
There was n pause at this point, and
Gen. Sternberp FASTENED to add:
'You VIII understand that one man
cannot do everything at once. and there
were occasional delays IN getting the
car OF the secretary. but nothing be-
yond this"
''TNen." said Cen. Beaver I'VE arc
20 understand YOU had az all times the
hearty sunnort and good VIII OF those
over vou in forwarding the work Of
VOW fnnart rAent?"
YES" was the reply, most undoubt-
edly"
As 10 the general condition ~ troops
IN mobilization camps. Gen. SternberR
said the trouble could nearly all be