Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-01
General H. v. Boynton Re-
ports on Its Condition.
Claims that the Several Hospitals
Are in Good Condition.
And that Death Percentage Is Lower Than
at Other Camps.

II. v. IoyHton upon the state OF aHalrS
in the hospitals at Camp Thomas,
dated Aug. %. Says Gen. Boynton:
Believing the death list of this camp
to afford an excellent standard by
which to measure it's conditions as to
health and hospital services, full re-
port was obtained of all deaths in the
camp and in it's hospitals since its es-
Enlistment the middle Of April last
The result shows total death list of
1873 up to the 22d of this month when
the breaking up of this camp began
Between these dates, including
regulars and volunteers, fully $4,000
troops have been in camp at Chicka-
manga. The record of burials in the
national cemetery at Chattanooga
shows 4 total of 120 volunteers and two
regular soldiers. One of the latter was
killed by falling from 4 railway train"
The report takes up in detail first the
two permanent hospitals, Letter and
'otciHDeiS, anu States Win the great
est minuteness the exact accommodi-
ton afforded by each. The first is at
jor Carter, and was converted from a
large summer resort hotel into a hos
pital, receiving the worst typhoid fever
cases from the camp. Each patient
has abundant room, woven wire and
hais mattresses, plumbing entirely
new and bathing facilities ample. The
number of Attendants, when all are
well, is entirely satisfactory.
Major Carter has corps of doctors
which he regards as amply sufficient to
care for all the patients in the hospital.
There has been at this hospital full sup
plies of ice, milk and delicacies. The en-
tire hospital is furnished with distilled
water.
Taking up the Sternberg hospital, in
charge Of Major Giffen, Gen. Boynton
shows that it is one of the most complete
field hospitals ever seen. according to vet
Grams of the last war
Since the establishment of this hospital
everything asked for in the way of sup
plies of every kind has been promptly
furnished. Sixteen to "a barrels of dis
titled water are daily purchased. From
three to five tons of ice are daily needed.
Three hundred gallons of milk are daily
purchased and $50 gallons furnished by
the Red Cross Society. All money neces-
sary for the purchase of delicacies has
been furnished by order of Gen. Stern
berg.
The LIST Division field hospital Is f!oored
with planned lumber and it is as clean as
possible. None of the 60 cents allowance
per man for delicacies has been used. as
it was not needed
He says that both the medical officers
and the hospital attendants at this hos
ptal have undoubtedly performed their
duty with energy and efficiency. and the
best test<of all this is shown by the fact
that SO many of them have Thoroughly
exhausted themselves and fallen sick I'M
der their labors.
The next hospital inspected was the Sd
Division hospital. LIST Corps. Here the at
PENDANTS were found sufficient, though in
the earlier days there were not enough
surgeons or attendants. The grounds
were in excellent conditions and the tents
clean.
AS in the other hospitals, the entire
force of attendants here have worked
with great persistence and till over % per
cent. of the hospital corps has fallen sick
from its exhaustive labors.
For the last six weeks, there has been
no difficulty whatever in obtaining medi-
cal supplies of every character. The Red
Cross has made liberal donations to this
hospital and friends have sent great
quantities of delicacies.
That of the Sd Corps, I'd Division, the
report states that the 50 tents are at pres
ent not all occupied, though during the
epidemic of measles hey were crowded
Leaving the details about the hospitals
the report proceeds to treat the whole
subject generally as follows:
I'm two of the hospitals opportunities
occurred for discovery of what undoubt-
edly originated many of the sensational
stories which have been printed over the
cuuulTy 10 Inc elect tTdl patients the
hospitals lacked sufficient food and in
many cases mad been on the verge of
In the wards where the convalescent
typhoid patients were found many of the
men were constantly asking for food, and
as matter of course, were as constantly
denied everything except the lighter
forms of food which alone can be safely
to recovering typhoid pa
tents.
This refusal of food throughout the
hospitals, by which care alone, as is per-
fectly understood. cansthe lives of typhoid
be saved, has been distort-
ed into the cry which has been spread
throughout the country, that patients
were being starved in the government
hospitals.
There has been no lack of proper food
in these hospitals and competent cooks
for preparing it have been present. and
he only Eeason for deprivlng the patients
II what SO many OF them have clamored
(Continued ON maya 4 = A.