The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04
HOSPITALS IN PORTO RICO.
Same Deficiencies at First That Elk
listed at Santiago.

1Ste0 at Santla&Os
Correspondence New York Post.
The campaign in Porto Rico, if the mill
tary expedition on this island is called
campaign, presents new features. Thus far,
in spite of some rather 'spread-eagle' re-
ports of battle and conquest the engage
ments with the Spanish troops have been
so trifling that they are scarcely worthy of
mention. During the civil war they would
either have been wholly ignored or dis
missed with a brief notice of the occur
renee. All of the men who have been
wounded, up to the time of this writing,
could easily have been cared for by three
or four surgeons, who would have had time
to waste after their work was done. The
enemy which the hospital corps has encoun-
tered here has been typhoid fever. From
its prevalence among certain troops and its
absence from others, it seems a wholly cor
rect inference that the disease was brought
here from the United States, and was not
contracted after arrival 1t appears to be
DE to various unsanitary conditions exist
ing or permitted in the home camps, and
for which the medical department is not
responsible But serious result has fallen
into the field of the department at Ponce,
and they have not been adequately pre-
pared to cope with it,
Owing to what seems to be an utter lack
of such system might rightly and reason
ably be expected to characterize such an ex-
petition, it has been exceedingly difficult to
obtain accurate information regarding the
exact situation. Some exaggerated and
some almost scandalous reports and stories
have been in circulation, and it is probable
that more or less of these will appear in
some of our home papers. The facts, as
we'll as have been able to obtain them APP
pear to be as follows: The personnel of the
medical staff of the army in Porto Rico is
wholly competent in its various departments
Of surgeons, assistant surgeons and field
hospital corps. The various positions are
filled by capable and conscientious men,
who are ready and willing to do all that
can be done, and they are doing it faith
fully. There has been delay in equip
ment. and temporary congestion, for
which some one is responsible. But the re-
sponsibility appears to lie on the shoulders
of officials at home. and not on those who
are here. In spite of the experience at
Santiago, and the possibility, even though
remote one, of its repetition here. no ade-
quate tentage or supply of cots. medicines
or hospital supplies attended the advance
portion of the army in Porto Rico. Ten
days after an army of some $4,000 men had
been landed on a foreign shore the hospital
ship Relief arrived at the port of Ponce
bringing some of the things that were
needed.
1t is not to be inferred that previous to
her arrival, there were no facilities what
ever. There were surgeons and physicians,
with their field hospital cases, and a large
number nun Of ambulsnces But this provision
most was cots. bedding, pyjamas, and food
suitable for fever patients, or for men suf-
verify. Fortunately we have been almost
entirely spared from the latter condition.
But it was within the range OF possibility
that we might have three, four or five hun
cred wounded men to care for. IL is hardly
a far-fetched play of the imagination to
fancy hostile Ponce instead of a cordial
be, are, welcomed with open heart
and hand. If it had been. then why an army
must have been anticipated. battles ex-
pected, and work for the hospital corps
reckoned among the probabilities. Ambu-
proper equipment for any place to which
the ambulances might bring their loads of
the unfortunate. If casualties were not
of transporting the ambulances? But we
have been spared the casualties laus Dec,
lances. But, so far as / can learn, there
were no hospital tents, ard it was about
ten days before diligent and laborious eff
fort could bring suitable buildings into suit
able condition for Hospital. purposes In the
meantime, fever patients, numbering into
the hundreds, were forced to remain with
their different commands, with no bed but
the ground, and often not even isolated from
their companions. The army surgeons were
helpless. Army barraks, evacuated by
Spanish troops, and other buildings, were
promptly taken in hand. But men with
typhoid and malarial fever must be in clean
ly surroundings, aud Spanish public build
ings are generally of the Augsah-stable or
der. Time and disinfeotants were both inn
perative. When these buildings were finally
got ready, the result was a temporary
confusion and congestion from the great
number of patients sent in The means of
caring for them were, for the time being,
insufficient.
All this might and should have been avoid
ed by due preparation. Somewhere, there
was either blunder or oversight. The Porto
Rico expedition came out in comparatively
small sections. from different camps, and
represented several different corps and di-
vision organizations. A brigade came from
Chickamauga, part of brigadies from Camp
Alger. and part of brigade from Tampa.
Batteries of artillery, and troops of cavalry
separated from their regiments. were among
the arrivals. AS the division hospital is the
central figure of our service. none of these
smaller commands carried any complete out
hit. and none seems to have been provided
for the expedition. In fact. it is quite prob
tached to such military congiomeration. 1t
would certainly seem as though we had
talked long enough about sending an army
affair, when ii did come off, a very model
Of system. completeness and efficiency.
preparation
Matters at Ponce are now being rapidly
Strengthened out. and there should be no
further ground for any complaint. 1t is
quite probable that some sensational stories
may get into print. Most OF these are like
~ to arise from the ignorance of those who
circulate them. For instance talk has been
made that the patients In the HOSPITALS were
being starved. 1t is probable that many of
them are not in any danger of being forced
TO eat prescribed daily rations OF three and
quarter pounds of food per day. But the
reason for this will be better understood by
those who know something of the nature
and the process of typhoid fever than il is
by those who circulate stories OF starving
fever patients. Thus far the death rate has
been very small. and friends at home may
row feel wholly sure that the best possible
men Of tho army In Ponce.