Evening star., 1898-08-26
DELICACIES FOR THE SICK
Surgeons Informed That an Allowance is
Made.
Not n Cent of the Fund Had Been Ex-
900 Might Have Been Available.

Acting Secretary Meiklejohn Of the War
Department has sent an order to every
military hospital in the country calling at
tention of the surgeons in charge to the
order of August 10, which allowed the ex-
penditure of sixty cents per day per man
for the purchase of delicacies for the sick
soldiers. He directed that this amount and
as much more as was necessary for the
comfort Of the sick be expended in making
the troops comfortable and in getting for
them such things as might be necessary
in the matter of food.
Mr.. Meiklejohn did this when he received
information from the hospital at Fort Myer
that not cent of this fund had been eX-
pended. 1t is probable many surgeons in
charge of hospitals are ignorant of the ex-
istence of the order, as it is understood at
the department that there are other points
where 1t has not been observed. 1t is COM
puted that a fund Of $4,000 might have
been available, and, in fact is now avail
able for the soldiers in the hospital at Fort
Myer, and it is believed the same state of
affairs exists elsewhere The sixty cents
day, under the order. is to be turned into
general fund. The opinion expressed at the
department is that many surgeons have
been very derelict in their duty.
Text of the Order.
The order above referred to is as fol-
lows:
Medical officers in charge of general hos
pitfalls, hospital trains, hospital transports
and the hospital at the camp at Pablo
Beach, Fla, and at the hospital at the
camp at Montauk Point, New York. will be
allowed to expend from the appropriation
subsistence of the army for the diet of
the enlisted men undergoing medical treat
nlent under their charge, at the rate of not
exceeding W cents per man per day for
the period each is undergoing treatment.
The allowance so made will constitute
special fund in the hands of the medical
officer in charge from which will be pur-
chased the entire diet of the enlisted men
while undergoing medical treatment. These
purchases will be restricted to articles of
food, solid and liquid, the quantities and
varieties of which will be determined by
the medical officer in charge.
Chief commssaries of departments Will
transfer to medical officers in charge such
subsistence funds as may be estimated for
by the latter for carrying out the objects
of this order.
There will be rendered monthly to the
commissary general of subsistence by the
II edical officers concerned. regular ac-
counts current supported by vouchers
showing the application of these funds,
and regular returns of subsistence stores
accounting for the articles of food pur-
chased and issued. There will be submitted
with each monthly return a tabular state
ment showing the number of patients
present during the month, as shown by the
hospital records and the money value of
the articles issued to and consumed by
them. The statement will be arranged
as to show the actual cost of subsistence
per man per day for the month.
transfers of subsistence funds from one
hospital, train or transport to another
without authority of the commissary gen.
eral of subsistence, and the purchase from
subsistence funds of articles other than
food intended for diet Of the sick, are pro-
hibited
This order will go into effect at once,
and all surplus funds in the hands of med
ical officers in charge, arising from the
communication of rations heretofore allowed
to enlisted men undergoing treatment un-
der their charge, will be taken up on their
accounts current for the month of August,
and all articles purchased from such COM
mutation remaining on hand unconsumed
on receipt hereof will be taken up on their
returns of subsistence stores for that
month"