The times., 1898-11-21

wounded received from May 10 Septem-
ber. inclusive. and representing a strength
present of 10. les men. These give full
particulars of Lis deaths, OF which num-
ber $40 were occasioned by typhoid fe-
yer: 81 by malarial fevers, and 393 by diar-
rhea and dysentery.
1.-The death rates for May and June, IS
and 20, were not in excess of those of !
the army In time of peace. In July the
rate became somewhat higher than that
of most well cared for cities, 2l5 for the
month. or the equivalent of an annual
rate OF ESQ per thousand living. In Au-
gust it became excessive, 4.0S for the
month, equal TO an annual rate of 1886
per thousand.
In September. the influence Of the en-
ergetic measures taken, in July and Au-
gust, TO improve the health of the army
becomes manifest in the falling of the
death rate to 2i5. OF the equivalent of an
annual rate of 2ai0 The same progress
sion to an acme IN August. with sudden
fall in September Is seen in the various
ratios given under the specific titles, ty-
/ phoid fever. malarial fever. and diar-
rheal diseases. This Is exceedingly graft
flying and must be credited, as stated. To
the sanitary measures adopted. for our
experience in the Civil War demonstrates
that in the absence of these measures
the high ratio OF August would have
been continued for many months 10 come
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 afforded by the Ma
tional Red Cross at Siboney was promptly
accepted by the surgeons on the spot, but
It is evident that it was entirely made
quate to meet the emergency.
This association has had full authority
to send agents and supplies TO all of our
camps since June 9, 1898, and it has con-
! trihuted supplies OF various kinds in a
most liberal manner for the use of our
| field hospitals.
/ Other organizations which have rem
/ dered very valuable services are the Ma
/ tional Relief Commission. having its
I headquarters in Philadelphia, and the
I Massachusetts Volunteer Aid Association,
with headquarters IN Boston.
| Both of these organizations fitted out
! hospital ships, which We're placed at my
service for the transportation of our sick
from Porto Rico, and l take pleasure in
! testifying to the valuable services rem
dered by the yacht May of the National
Relief Commission. and the hospital ship
/ Bay State of the Massachusetts Nolun-
| teer Aid Association.
Sums of money varying from 80 cents.
sent by Master Oliver s Whitaker. of
! Detroit Mich, to 5000 by Mr.. Cleveland
H. Dodge chairman of the supply COM
! mittee National Red Cross Society. have
been sent to me to be used according to
| my discretion for the benefit of our sick
and wounded soldiers. In all / have re-
ceived s2i,2ii9i
Among the contributors have been The
Colonial Danes of America, through the
treasurer Miss Z. b. Nichols, OF Wash
ington, d. c., $500; the Red Cross Aux
iliary No. 3, through Mrs. Winthrop Cow
din, of New York, S2,000, and the Women s
War Relief Association, through Mrs.
Victoria Raymond, treasurer Contributed
for hospital ship Relief s2,275.
This money had been sent by me prin-
cipally to general hospitals, to chief sur
geons of army corps in the field, and to
commanding officers of hospital ships, to
be used in the purchase of delicacies for
the sick.
Recon- m e ndatiOns.
1.-The increase of the enlisted strength
of the army to total of $1,000. and the
large number of new stations TO be gar
risoned in the islands acquired and occu-
pied by the United States. makes an in
crease in the medical corps absolutely es-
sential.
II, therefore, recommend an addition
to the number of medical officers now
allowed by law, of two assistant surgeons
general with the rank of colonel, six
deputy surgeons general. with the rank
of lieutenant colonel, thirty surgeons with
the rank of major, and fifty assistant sur
geons with the rank of first lieutenant.
This recommendation is based upon
the present organization of the army,
Any increase made by Congress during
the coming session will necessitate a fur
ther increase of the medical corps
Reports 10 the adjutant general to
September 80 1898, show BASS killed and
died of wounds, and 2,4S5 died of disease
in mean strength of about ESQ men. "