The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-31
PORTORICO CONDITIONS
FOUND BY NATIONAL RELIEF
COMMISSION
THE, SICK LIST IS GROWING
Many Deaths May Be Expected Unless
Better Transportation Facilities
Are Provided at Once
Associated Press Special Wire

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30.-The yacht
May, which arrived In this city today from
Porto Rico, via Newport News, brought the
report of the representatives of the Ma
tional Relief Commission, ex-Min1ster to
italy Vim. Potter, William Van Rensselaer,.
Louis C. Vanuxem and DR.. G. G. Gran,
who went to Porto Rico to superintend
the distribution Of the supplies sent to the
sick soldiers by the commission. The May,
which was loaned to the government by
Mr.. Van Rensselaer,, left this city on Au-
gust 6, and reached Ponce, Porto Rico, Au-
gust II. The report states that the Com
missioners reported to General Miles and
were by him referred to Colonel Greenleaf,
Chief Surgeon of the army In the field
Colonel Greenleaf ordered the seventy tons
of medical supplies to be taken from the
May and placed on the lower floor OF the
customs house, which Is now being used
as the headquarters of the army in Porto
Rico. After giving details of the ddstribu-
| ton of the supplies the report says:
I'm almost every instance we found the
| army surgeons most anxious to have at
| their disposition money for the purchase
| Of needed luxuries for the sick. such as
fresh milk, ice (when obtainable), and can-
ned goods, and we are happy to report that
| in every case we have been able to meet
| the demands made upon us.
'aThere are about 16, 900 American solder
in Porto Rico and on the day OF our de-
parture, August %. there were over 10oo
men on the sick list. OF this number one
half were cases requiring prompt and care
full treatment. There was large number
of typhoid cases, but on the 22d instant
| this disease was not on the increase, q
fact which indicated that the malay had
been carried from the camps at home and
Is not Indigenous to Porto Rico. However
there was a very large increase in ddar.
rhoea, dysentery, dengue or break-bont
| fever and malarial disorders, due to thu
hot, unhealthy rainy season just com.
mencing, which causes the water supply
to be Allied with malar1al germs from thu
constantly decaying vegetation.
"All medical authorities with the army
| In Porto Rico agree that the sick list is in
creasing, and that an alarming condition
| NAV be expected unless the War Depart
ment promptly arranges barracks for thu
army Of occupation and Immediately pro
yides additional transports (the hospita
ship Relief being insufficienO to remove
such of the sick men as can be safely
| transferred, and those enervated by CHM
attic changes. 1t Is impossible for mer
from northern climates to recuperate In
tropical country during its most unhealth
| full season.
I'm conclusion, we are glad to report thai
we reached Porto Rico with our medica
and hospital supplies Just at the time wher
they were most needed, as. owing to thu
lack Of steam launches with which to un
load the vessels in the harbor and those
hard aground on the coral reef. the medi
cal department could not secure its sup
plies promptly and our consignment hat
been most carefully selected, containing
many useful articles not supplied in thu
hospital equipment Of the United statei
army. We cabled to the National Relic
lCommission on the END to forward t
Porto Rico a consignment Of light grocer
lies, such a. condemned cream, cereals
canned supplies. clam broth. ETC.; als'
Ipa5amas and underclothing. ~ 81 Whlcl