New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-14
DIR. HOFF on CAMP THOMAS.

DIR. HOFF on CAMP THOMAS.
Washington Oct 3-Lieutenant- Colonel J. q.
Hon was before he War Department Investigating
Commission at its forenoon session to-day. He Is
n Regular Army officer. and was chief surgeon
Of the Third Army Corps at Camp Thomas He
said he did not consider the camp TO have been in
the best sanitary condition. but expressed the
opinion that il the best It could be under the
circumstances. rhe men were camped somewhat
closer 70 each other than they should properly
have been and II had been Impossible. without
blasting TO make the sinks as deep as good SAM
tation required owing 10 layer OF limestone TWO
- three feet below the surface throughout the
camp. II impossible 10 compel men 10 use the
sinks and he thought II probable that this DIM
Guilty had led TO injurious results. Every enort
had been made to have the sinks properly covered
and disnfected and 10 have the men use them
Dr. Hon said that in the beginning the camp was
deficient in medical supplies There were at this
time many Of diarrhoea, and IL had not been
possible TO meet all the demands for remedies. The
shortage was because it had been expected that
the troops would to camp supplied with medi-
cines but some of them failed in this respect MAX
Ing greater demand than had been counted on
Dr. Hoff said that the shortage In medical supplies
had continued for several weeks. but there was
generally sufficient to meet the immediate demands
He also said that acquisitions had been re-
turned by the Washington authorities because they
were improperly filled. and he was under the I'M
preston that there had been complaints Of some
suffering on this account. There consider
able delay in securing flooring for the tents
Was there any deprivation on account Of the
shortage OF tents and Of medical supplies? asked
Ex-Governor Woodbury.
1T was so reported" replied DR.. HoN
Whose fault it, asked.
Not mine" he replied. Il did all that could
90.
The troops Of the Third Corps were more closely
crowded than they should have been. but he had
understood that he crowdng had been supposed
to he a military necessity in the beginning
Dr. Conner said that the Governor of Arkansas
had complained of the neglect of the troops from
that State. The witness replied that the Arkansas
,roops received the same medical and atten-
iion that had been given TO other soldiers under
like conditions. He knew Of case in which men
In the hospitals had been compelled TO lie on the
ground. but he thought there were probably cases
IN which sick men had been kept under flies for
several days. He was asked II II true that
~ night there an average of only one nurse
10 each forty patients the hospital of the Second
Division OF the Third Corps and said this could not
be true.
Dr. Conner read an extract from the letter of the
Governor Of Arkansas. saying that he had made
personal investigation of this hospital and had
found the conditions deplorable- simply disgrace
ful" He charged that the doctors in the inst-
luton TeTs al NohsTn iSem ha be M" we're u
cases Of fever In which patients had gone with
out water for twenty-four hours, and In which
sick men went without attention from surgeon
without receiving a dose OF medicine for week.
In replying DIT. Hof said that several southern
physicians engaged at the hospital and that
he did not think il possible men could have been
neglected indicated by the Governors letter He
had heard Of no such cases.
Continuing DR. Hof said that the capacity Of
the division hospitals was often doubled and
trebled u sometimes occurred that there were
eight men in tents which Intended 10 accom-
modate six because Of delay In securing tentage 10
"a re for the increase OF disease. which was I'M
oxpec,edly rapid. On two occasions patients
we're necessarily placed In beds made on the floors
because OF "A temporary deficiency in cots. The
orders provided for careful disin1ection In typhoid
cases As rule. the nurses were without training.
and This fact OCcasiOned some difficulty I'm dealing
with fvphOid cases Yet he knew of no speclrc
cases OF suffering this account. lie spoke OF the
case If u man afflicted with an infectious disease
who had been compelled to lie in the open air one
sure that no injury resulted. the weather was
pleasant.
4 statement in the nature Of report was read
from DR. Samuel y Hubbard surgeon of the "th
Now-York rejecting TO some extent on the Second
Division HOSPITAL. He charged that the water FOR
Tho hospital bad. coming from ChickamauGa
Creek which he said. drained the camp.
Dr. Hof thought the only safe plan was 10 re-
gard the in the pipes infected The In
take this about forty feet above the
mouth Of Cave Spring Branch which drained the
o. mn and some physicians had considered 1t posi-
bic tha, IT might be infected through the instru-
mentality Of side eddies which might have taken
water from the small stream into the pipes. lie
said that i'm the last few weeks Of the Second Di-
crowded that II was found necessary 70 stop re-
ceivng patients there but that the congested con-
dition was relieved as the SternberG Hos
pita completed