The herald., 1898-11-21

exposure to the climatic influences and to
infections Of Santiago and its neighborhood
pending and subsequent to the surrender OF
thelcity.
The method of hospital organization in
these camps was practically the same and
there was much similarity in the conditions
affecting them and correspondingly in their
history. Regiments reported in few in
stances with the material and supplies in
their medical care, but they brought sick
men with them and these required immc'
date care. Provision had to be made for
division hospitals in view Of the future
field service and for regimental hospitals
in view of the immediate necessity. Chief
surgeons and officers of divisions began
the organization and equipment of their
field division hospitals and ambulance COM
panies, but they were met at the outset
by the apparent impossibility of securing
men for service as cooks, nurses, litter
bearers, ambulance drivers, teamsters, etc.
As result, the hospitals were kept in cam
paigning conditons-that is, the tents were
neither framed nor foored--until the in
creased prevalence of typhoid fever attracted
attention to their crowded condition, when
the object of their existence became sud-
denly changed from school for field service
to a hospital for the treatment of disease.
Special diet kitchens, under the manage
ment of capable individuals, were opened at
most of the hospitals. Money for this pur-
pose was sent to them by me from funds
contributed and placed at my disposal.
Money was also sent directly by individuals
and representatives of aid societies, and the
Red Cross committees supplied quantities of
ice and milk, chickens, eggs, lemons, ETC.,
and articles of hospital clothing were pro-
vided by the Red Cross and other aid soci-
ties Subsequently the order placing the
Communication of the sick soldiers raticns at
60 cents rendered these hospitals independ-
ent of outside assistance.
About July 90 the troops for the invasion
of Porto Rico embarked and sailed. The
field hospital accommodation with this ex-
peditionary force was ample and the supplies
were abundant.
TROOPS ON THE PACIFIC COAST
TO the precautions taken to secure good
sanitary condition on the vessels prior to
cmbarkation and the sanitary supervision
exercised over the men during their long
voyage must be credited the excellent condi-
ton of the troops at Manila. The want of
hospital corps men was the main cause of
the failure of chief surgeons to establish
their division hospitals promptly; instead
of organizing for field service, their time
was occupied and their energies were spent
in endeavoring to procure the necessary
men by enlistment or transfer. After
time, when sickness invaded the camps and
1ixricio,, hocpito lc hooo,oo E11oJ
tions for field service had to give place to
the immediate necessity of caring for the
sick The division hospitals became ex-
panded, as at Siboney and Tampa, into
base hospitals, with increased needs and in
creased responsibilities.
GENERAL HOSPITALS
Up to September 80 eleven general hospi-
tails were established and fully manned and
equipped. These had a capacity of nearly
1000 beds At the same time certain post
hospitals having good accommodations were
used for the treatment of army cases gener-
ally, without alteration of their official stat
us as post hospitals.
My report presents tabulations compiled
from monthly reports of sick and wounded
received from May to September, inclusive,
and representing strength present of l67,-
1853 men. These give full particulars. There
were l7l5 deaths, of which number $40 were
occasioned by typhoid fever, 81 by malarial
fevers, and 393 by diarrhoea and dysentery
The death rates for May and June 40 and 70,
were not in excess of those of the army in
time of peace. In July the rate became some
what higher than that of most wcll-cared-for
cities, 2.l5 for the month"; or the equivalent
of an annual rate of $3.50 per 1000 living. In
August it became excessive, 4.0S, equal to an
annual rate of 1896 per 1000. In September
the influence of measures taken in July and
August to improve the health of the army
became manifest in the falling of the death
rate to 2.45, or the equivalent of an annual
rate of 29.40. The same progression to an
acme in August, with sudden fall in Sep
tember in various ratios, is given under the
specific titles, typhoid, malarial fevers, di-
arphoea and kindred diseases. This is ex-
ceedingly gratifying and must be credited,
as stated, to the sanitary measures adopted,
for our experience in the civil war demon
strates that in the absence of these meas
ures the high ratio of August would have
been continued for many months to come
From tables of absolute numbers and of
ratios by which the incidents of sickness and
mortality of the regular and volunteer
troops may be contrasted, it will be seen
that the exposure of the regular troops in
the Santiago campaign gave them, from
June to September, higher death rate than
the volunteers, and that the rate of the lat
ter for August, the month of maximum NOR |
tality, was 362, as compared with 5.S3
among the regular troops.
VOLUNTEER RELIEF WORK
My guiding principle throughout the war
has been that relief when needed should be |
promptly accepted, without reference to the |
source from which it came. The relief af-
forded by the National Red Cross at Siboney
was promptly accepted by the surgeons on
the spot, but it is evident that it was entire
ly inadequate to meet the emergency. This
association has had full authority to send
agents and supplies of various kinds in a
most liberal manner for the use of our field
hospitals. Other organizations which have
very valuable service are the Ma
tional Relief commission, having its head
quarters in Philadelphia, and the Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Aid association, with 1
headquarters in Boston. Both of these or.
CARNATIONS fitted out hospital ships. which
were placed at my service for the transporta-
tion of our sick from Pcl<o Rico, and l take
pleasure in testifying to the valuable service
rendered by the yacht May of the National
Relief commission and the hospital ship Bay
States of the Massachusetts Volunteer Aid |
association.
TIE MEDICAL CORPS
Before concluding my report of the oner