The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-17

The Surgeon General EXPLAINS i'm An.
swer To "a Criticising Letter.


sNver TO Criticising Letter.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE following
letter from the surgeon general of the army
was written in reply to one sent to the
President by Mr.. A. e. Orr, vice chairman
of the Red Cross committee: II have re-
ceived the copy of your letter to the Presi-
dent. In answer to your question as to
why the intervention of the Red Cross re-
lief committee should be longer needed and
why the government does not see to it that
its sick are provided for l would say:
The emergencies of the war made the
assistance of the relief association most
valuable, Notwithstanding the fact that it
is the intention of the government to pro-
vide literally for the care of sick soldiers.
But, as you know. with ample means and
good intentions supplies cannot always be
provided at the proper place and time to
meet an emergency. Moreover at the out
set Of the war the arrangements made for
providing light diet for the sick. which had
proved satisfactory in time of peace under
the careful management of experienced
medical officers, were inadequate under the
conditions which prevailed in our camps
OF instruction and among troops engaged
IN active operations. For this reason the
presence of Red Cross agents with their
abundant supplies of delieacies for the sick
has been of inestimable value. But pro-
vision was made by a general order pub
lished Aug 10 General Order 116), by which
surgeons in charge of hospitals, general,
division or regimental. are enabled to draw
% cents per day for each sick enlisted man
Of the army in lieu of his regular ration
Up to that time the Communication value of
a ration was only 30 cents
The medical department does not sup
ply food for the sick in hospital. This is
obtained from the commissary department
or by purchase wherever it can be procured
l inclose herewith a list showing the arti-
cles which can be purchased from the COM
nlissary, which list, as you will see. in
cludes canned soups, tapioca. crackers, jel-
lies. tea, butter, ETC. Milk, chickens, eggs
and fresh vegetables are purchased
wherever they can be obtained. The med
zeal department furnishes few articles UNI
der the head of hospital stores including
condensed milk sugar and tea, but no other
food supplies are furnished by the medical
department or can be properly paid for
from the medical and hospital appropria-
ton. OF course if the commissary DEPART
ment fails to provide these supplies and
they cannot be purchased in the vicinity of
a camp or hospital the difficulty of provid-
ing proper food for the sick will be very
great, and under such circumstances the
supplies of relief associations have been
most welcome. But the amount now al
lowed by the government is ample to pro-
vide everything necessary in the way of
suitable diet for the sick and when there
is any failure TO provide this il. is failure
in administration by those Immediately in
charge and not failure of the government
to provide the necessary means.
You will no doubt agree with me that
90 cents day for the raw material from
which to prepare proper diet for the sick
is a most liberal provision. The experience
of medical officers shows that it is not only
ample, but excessive. and that for sick men,
living for the most part on milk weak
soups and farinaceous food, this amount is
much In excess of any reasonable require
ment.
Under these circumstances think that
those patriotic and liberal citizens who have
contributed so freely OF their money and
time to aid in the care OF our sick soldiers
may now leave the matter in the hands of
tire government without any apprehension
as to the result"