The Red Cloud chief., 1898-09-02
TYPHOID IN PORTO RICO.
soldiers brought the Disease From tho
Home Camps.

SoIuiers drought thc Discnse FROM tho
Home Camps.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3t.-Thc Yacht
May. which arrived in this city to-day
via Newport News, brought the report
Of the representatives OF the National
Relief commissiou. William Potter, ex-
minister to Italy, William Van Rens-
s%alaer, Louis c. VanUxem and DR.. G..
q. Graf, who went To Porto. Rico to SUI
perintcnd the distribution of supplies
sent to the sick soldiers by the COM
mission. The May, which was loaned
to the government by Mr.. Van Rens-
salacr. left this city August 6 and
reached Ponce August II. The report
states that the commissioners report
cd to General Miles and were by him
referred to Colonel Grccnleaf, chief
surgeon OF the army in the field. Col
onel Grcrnlcaf ordered the seventy
tons of medical supplies to be taken
from the May and placed in the lower
floor of the customs house, which is
now used Us the headquarters of the
army at Porto Rico.
After giving details of the distribu-
ton OF supplies, the report says: ''In
almost every instance we found the
army surgeons most anxious to have
at their disposition money for the pur-
chase of needed luxuri,s for the sick,
such rs fresh milk, ice when obtain
able) and canned goods, and we are
happy to report that in every ease we
have been able to meet the demands
made upon US.
There are about 5000 American
soldiers in Porto Rico and upon the
day of our departure, August %, there
were over 1,0)J men upon the sick list.
Of this number onc-half were cases re-
curing prompt and careful treatment.
There was a large number of typhoid
clses, but upon the a.l instant this
disease was not upon the increase, a
fact which indicates that the malady
had been carried from the camps at
home and is not Indigenous to Porto
l'ico. However, there was n large in
crease in diarrhoea, dyscntery, dengue
or ~breakbone fever and malarial dis
orders due to the hot, unhealthy rainy
season, just commencing, which causes
the water supply to b. filled with ina
larial germs from the constant decay
ing vegetation. All medical authori-
ties in the army in Porto Rico agree
that the sick list is increasing and that
an alarming condition may b, created
unless the War department rrang
army barracks for the army of occupa-
ion and INN diately provides addi-
tional transports thc hospital ship
Relief being insuiiicicnt) to remove
such sick men as can be safely trans
ported home, the convalcscents and
those cnervated by climatic condi-
tions. 1t Is impossible for men from a
Northern climate to rccupcrate in a
tropical country during it's most un
hcalthfui season.
In conclusion we are glad to report
that we reached Porto Rico with our
medical and hospital supplies just at
the time when they were most needed,
rs, owing to the lack OF steam
launches with which to unload the
vessels in the harbor and those hard
aground upon the coral reef, the med
zeal department could not secure it's
supplies promptly and our consign-
mept had been most carefully selected.
containing many useful articles not
supplied in the hospital equipment of
the United States army.
I'VE cablcd to the National Relief
commission on the 22d to forward to
Porto Rico a consignment of light gro
ccrics. such as condensed cream
cSrcalS. canned soups, clam broth, etc. :;
also paiamas and underclothing, all of
which are much needed in the hos
pitfalls and are not obtainable in the
island"
Attached to the report is n letter
from General Miles thanking the com
:nissioners on behalf of the army for
the supplies and also for Il big c~onsign-
ment Of American flags; also a letter
from Colonel Grcenlcaf expressing
thanks for the gift of an ice making
machine, in which he y
II cannot adequately express the
satisfaction with which the results of
this donation will be received by the
sick, Ice in this country is an expen-
sive luxury, costing $50 per ton in Por-
to Rican money, which necessitates
the exercise Of rigid economy upon the
part of our medical officers in its use.
To have the output Of such a machine
nj u disposal is a blessing, the bene-
fits of which al only be appreciated
by those who have served in these hos.
pitals.'
MCKINLEY TO VISIT M0NTAUK