Evening star., 1898-08-03
Where the Typhoid Fever Patients
Are Sent.
hTH0ROBGHLY EQUIPPED INSTITUTION
The Riding Hall Now Being Fitted
Up With Cots.
A FAITH ER'S TRIBU T F

There are 2oO cases of typhoid fever in
the general hospital at Fort Myer, the vic
tins being volunteers from Camp Alger.
| New cases of typhoid are being brought to
the hospital at the rate of twenty to twen-
ty-fve a day.
The epidemic now prevailing at Camp
Alger is filling the general hospital so rap
idly that additional quarters for the pa
tients are being constructed. Indeed, fifty
four new patients were sent there yester-
day
The immense riding hall at the fort
which was used for cavalry drills before
the war. is having a floor put down and
| the cots for the fever-stricken men will fill
the building.
Furthermore, the administration building
| is being rearranged to provide for 100 more
| men. 1t is evident that the authorities at
Camp Alger expect to make heavy de-
mands upon the hospital
Seventeen female nurses are now en-
pIoyed in caring for the fever patients and
twenty-four more are expected within the
next few days, bringing the number up to
forty-one. If the epidemic continues at
| increases upon the ratio of the past week
additional nurses will soon have to be OBJ
tanned.
a Most Virulent Type.
The army surgeons in charge of the hospi-
| tai say the fever is of most virulent type.
Major Davis, the surgeon commanding,
stated that in all his experience he had
never seen worse cases of typhoid. He
said the temperatures are excessively high
and the delirium OF the patients intense.
They require constant watching and the
entire hospital staff is worked to the ut
most limit, night and day.
nurses rendered
more taxing account of the large num-
Der of severe cases of rheumatism brought
in from Camp Alger. Many of these vic
tins are in a most pitiable condition, un-
able to move without intense pain and
requiring constant attention. In addition
10 the 200 typhoid fever patients now in
the general hospital, there are about seven
ty men suffering with rheumatism and
other ailments.
Many pitiful scenes are witnessed about
the general hospital at Fort Myer as the
poor fellows are brought in from Camp
Alger, some of them to die few days
later and be carried across the road into
Arlington cemetery on u gun caisson, es-
corted by firing squad and a bugler.
- Trolley Cars an AnbuIances.
The patients are brought from Camp AL
ger in trolley cars, rudely fitted up am
balances. Mattresses are stretched along
the seats, and the sufferers made as COM
Portable as possible with pillows, Tender
hands lift them out the narrow doorways
of the cars and place them aboard the am
balances for transportation along the
smooth roads from the railway terminus
to the hospital. With all this, however,
there is necessarily a great deal of suffer-
ing connected with the removal.
When the sick men reach the general
hospital their surroundings are improved.
1t is like getting into new world TO them,
this transformation from the fever-ridden
pest hole, Camp Alger, to the commodious
and airy brick hospitals at the fort. Here
the breezes sweep across the table land
constantly, whistling through the windows
of the hospital.
Lying upon their snowy COTS :he men
are tended by womans ministering hands
while science lends aid to their recovery
with everything known to the medical pro-
feSsfon for the treatment of the disease
and which bountiful government fur
nishes. Nourishment, ice and medicines
are provided pfentifuly. While the wards
are large. Containing many beds, they are
arranged SO that each patient shall have
the due allowance of breathing SPACE nee
cssary for a man. There is no crowding in
the wards.
A Thoroughly Equipped Hospital.
Maj. Davis stated to a Star reporter that
the hospital was thoroughly equipped.
He said Surgeon General SternDerg had
given the hospital everything which had
been requested of him, and had provided
in the most generous way for all the wants
of the institution. Maj. Davis was loud in
his praise of the promptness and thorough
ness manifested by the department in fur
Eishing the needed supplies.
Although the hospital is taxed to it's ca
pacity at present to take care of the pa
tients, there has been no relocation of
strict sanitary and hygieriic regulations
The excrement of the typhoid fever pa
tients is disinfected before it goes into the
Potomac river through the sewage system
iG hDj1e nd
then washed
The hospital is in charge of Maj. William
B. Davis, Z. S. A. commanding, general
hospital. He is assisted by Ira A Sinner
assistant surgeon, L. S. A. and the fol-
lowing acting assistant surgeons: Thomas
B. Anderson, Arlington Pond, r. H. Eau
ner, Vertnor Kenerson. Joseph ]. Curry
and John E. Woodbridge.
Watching His Sick Roy.
Testimony, not ex parte to the efficiency
of the hospital was obtained by The Star
reporter in casual way, which adds to
its value. Coming back on the car from
Fort Myer. The Star reporter met Mr. j.
E. Denton of Alpena, Mich, who has son
from one of the Michigan regiments lying
sick of typhoid in the hospital AS soon as
he learned that his boy was i'll Mr.. Denton
came to Washington and has Leen q con-
staut attendant by his sons bcdside. He
is with him frcm early in the morning
take his meals. Mr.. Denton is a plain.
everyday kind of a citizen, and his story
is a plain one. but it may he interesting.
He was nothing but slip of a boy -
said Mr.. Denton; "only eighteen years of
age; but he kept teasing us to let him
go with the regiment from our town. He
was just that set going that at last we
bad TO give him permission to apply for
enlistment
His ma and I never thought he could
pass the PHYSICAL examination. he was so
slight. and that there was no danger of his
getting into the army; but he did pass and
the first thing we knew he was marching
away with the regiment.
Then. the next thing, he was taken down
with typhoid at that camp. AS soon as the
news came. l set out for Washington His
ma is not very strong and she could not
come, but we both were worried almost
distracted because we had let him go.
We'll sir. you never fellow so hap
py as that little chap was when his old dad
walked into the long ward, between the
rows of beds, and took hold of his hand.
sit there by the hour and fan, to keep his
temperature down, and every once and n
while he will hang on to my hand and
whisper: Pop, you don't know how much
it helps me to open my eyes and see you
a. st1in' there
That is surely good hospital. am in
q POSITION to see everything that goes on