The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-09
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
Surgeons Testify That 1t Was Next to I'm
possible to Get Proper Medicines.

Chicago, November s-The war inVes'
tigating commission today continued tine
examination OF witnesses. General Dodge
chairman of the committee now says
that he can begin to see an END OF tne
long Investigation. After some evlnence
had heen heard at Detroit the commits 60
will go to Washington. They have yet to
visit Camp Meade, Pa.
According to DIR. Conner. the accunu-
lation of papers and documents IN tn rs,
possession Of the committee would MI
a large sized room. DIR. u. A. smith OF
Clinton, Iowa. was the first witness 70
day. From August to September ~
he was in charge of the second DIVISION,
third army corps, army hospital, at
Camp Tampa.
DR.. smith said: s'When assumed
my duties found a shortage OF tents
and cots. Some of the patients were ly-
ing on the ground. There was no pro-
visions for feeding the siok other tnen Ine
rations issued to the soldiers 10 tne reg .s
lar service, EXCEPT such food as was
brought in by charitable organizations,
principal of which were the Red Gross
society and the National Relief associ-
alton. In the pharmacy there were ~
that time no Intestinal antiseptlcs a..
though the commanding officer INFORMS.
me when I made a requisition that ne
uoA 1tlAu5 @TeG0dUCtt ClOLup w p
The pharmacy at that time-and indeed,
until it was ordered closed--tl turned Gne
stores over to the government on the Stn
of September), never had any proper
equipment for doing pharmaceuticai
work.
In speaking of the water supply fur
nished the hospital. DR.. Smith said:
The water that was furnished for the
use of the hospital up to August !, was
taken from the pipe line from Chicka.
manga creek and was SO full of sediment
that it was simply slush and was not
water.
"There was no floor in any of the hos.
pital tents at the time reported for duty
at that hospital. The first tent was Hoored
soon after the middle of July, although
some were not foored until long after
that
ssIn regard to the nursing in that hos
pital, we had no trained nurses. All the
nursing was done by orderlies and many
Of them were densely ignorant.
'tIn regard to the sinks, disinfection
and drainage, right back OF the tents OF
the second brigade there was cess-pool
which contained most of the water from
the camp and that remained stagnant
until some time in August.
"In speaking of the infection of the
camp, the doctor expressed himself as
being OF the opinion that typhoid fever
which in vaded the grounds.
II never know of more than two in
stances where ! should say that there Was
any amount of neglect in my hospital, !"
said the doctor.
Eyes. I saw sick men lying in their
camp clothing because of tha want of
blankets, clothing, etc., to make .
change. Usually within "a hours after
such thing was discovered, 1t was
remedied. went to Gen. Compton onoe
and told him of the conditions prevailing
in our hospital, and so far as knew,
he made efforts to have my recommended
tions carried out. The q. s. government
did not supply any special diet or delica-
cies for sick men. These were obtained
from the relief associations.
~ bolieye that Gen. Brooke, who was
in command of the first army corps and
also In command of Chickamauga park
was instrumental in DETECTING a large
bulk Of the supplies into the hrst corps
to the detriment of the second division
hospital