The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-31
TYPHOID IN PORTO RICO
Will Stay Its Thousands Unless
SOmrthing Is Dnne NnicL

Philadelphia, Aug 30-The Yacht Nav.
which arrived in this city today from
Porto Rico, via Newport News, brought
the report Of the representative of the
National Relief Commission. ex-Minister
20 Italy, William Potter William Van
Rennssaeler, Lewis c. Van Uxen and DR..
G. G. Graft, who went to Porto Rico to
Superintend the distribution Of the sun
plies sent to the sick soldiers by the COM
mission The May. which was loaned &C,
the government by Mr.. Rennssaler. left
thsi city on August and reached Ponce
Porto Rico, August II. The report states
that the commissioners reported to Cen
eral Miles and were by him referred to
Colonel Greenleaf, chief surgeon of the
army in the field. Colonel Greenleaf or
dered the seventy tons Of medical sup
plies to be taken from the May and plac-
ed ia he lower floor of the customs nous
which is now being used as the headquar-
terS OF the army in Porto Rico.
After giving details of the distribution
of the supplies, the report says:
in almost every instance we found the
army surgeons most anxious TO have at
their disposition money for the purchase
Of needed luxuries for the sick, such as
fresh nilk, ice (when obtainable) and
canned goods, and We are happy to re-
port that in every case we have been
able to meet the demands made upon US.
There are abort 1890 American SOL
diers in Porto Rico and on the dav OF
our departure. August -. there were :. 900
men on uhe sick list. OF this number one
half were cases requiring prompt and
careful treatment. There was a large
number % typhoid cases. but on the
I'd instant this disease was not on the
increase, a fact which indicates that the
malady had been carried from the camps
at home and Is not Indigenous to Porto
Rico However. there was a very large
increase in ytiarrhoea. dysentery. dengue
or breakooue fever. and malarial disor-
derS, due 10 the hot, ursrealtby rainy sea-
son, just commencing. winch causes the
water supply 10 be filed with malarial
germs from tne constant decaying veye-
tauon. Ali medical authorities in me
army in Porto Rico agree that the sick
list IS increasing and that an alarming
condition may be expected unless me war
department. promptly arranges barracks
for the army Of occupation and imnesF-
a Eaf 5fabh4trsS tAaNlAt-tt1i@+ AEG4A~ANtAIS fk11
hospital ship Relief being Insufficient to
remove such OF the sick men as can be
safely transferred nome. the convaIe>cent
and chose enervated by climatic condi-
tons. Il Is impossible FOR mea from a
northern climate - rscuperace 81 d trop-
ica, country during as mos, unheaIchful
season.
IN conclusion We are glad u report
taat Ne reached Porto Rico with or
medical and hospital supplies Just a. the
time When ghey were most needle. as
OWNS 20 cle lack Of steam launches WITH
which % unload ne vessels IN the ha-h,-
and those hsD6 aground on the coral reef.
the medical department could not secure
It's supplies promptly and our cons, gu1ent
had been most carefully selected con
tanning many useful articles not supplied
in the hospital equipment OF the United
States army.
I'VE csbisd 20 ne National Relief Con-
mission On the I'd to forward 70 Po-co