The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-09
THE MEDICAL SERVICE
Subjected to Investigation by the
War Commission.
ALGeR'S WAITING POLICY
otsrnoerg Throws tho Responsibility
Upon b Secretary G war-No No
tce Taken OF Unoficiai Reports.
Nurses Expensive Luxuries.

Washington, Dec. S-The conduct Of
n medical service OF the army was
taken up to-day by the war investi-
eating commission n Surgeon Gen.
eeral s~ternberg VAS rigidiy questioned
about his administration. Thu medical
department. he said. was equipped only
for an army OF 25.cco when the war
broke out. and from year 90 year esti-
mates he had submitted had beer us-
terially reduced by congress in TN, poll
'cy Of economy. As soon as there was
a prospect of war he had begun prep
srations. though not making any oN-
pense. When he suggested to Aiser
the propriety of making purchases for
his service the policy was to wait"
He said at one time there were as many
as $50 contract surgeons employed. He
conceded there vas n mistake mot TO
have appointed more contract surgeons
from those who a experience In the
civil war. But he was ignorant at the
outset OF the permanency of camps.
Regimental surgeons, he said. were
good, bad and Indifferent, but he recol-
lected no instance OF dismissal for n
competency.
Threshing over the controversy be-
tween the regimental and division hos
pitfalls. he credited the establishment q
the latter to their two years expert
ence in the civil war. Al the outset
h maximum capacity of the divisl N
hospital was go beds. but this capacity
was quickly found far inadequate. The
department now. he said. has ample
evidence that typhoid cases during the
war were largely mistaken for malarinl
fever until cases each the division
hospitals, and malaria also has been
diagnosed as typhoid.
General ~Sternberg's recollection was
that prior TO the inspection tour Of the
IN by Secretary Alger, Quartz
master General Ludington and himself,
the Information In his hands of unsGu-
ttary conditions of Camp Thomas wus
unofficial. He said that at that TINA
II was practicable to secure a fairly
large number OF nurses, but their train
ing took time, which he admitted n
war time might be at the expense -
the patients. He acknowledged the
services OF volunteer aid association,
and said the trained women nurses
were satisfactory, though he received
some reports TO the contrary. witn,-,
admitted a real deficiency in mediciI
supplies at times.
He commended. however, that there
had been very little lack OF medical SUI
plies during the war. the great diflcul-
~ being that surgeons frequently pm
ferred other thar the field ~supplier.
ana an unanticipated typhoid fever
outbreak had also considerably taN.i
the Held resources. Asked II II had
been officially reported to him tina
there were surgeons at Montauk unit
for duty because Of bad habits. he said
there had been one who drank. who
came from Fortress Monroe. and is now
on duty at jefferson barracks. Com
ing 10 the history OF the Santiago
movement. General Sternberg explain
ed that there had been an abundance
of medical officers and supplies sent 10
Santiago and that the trouble. so far
as he could judge. arose in their land
tnga and distribution. He said emphat-
ically that he could do no more in his
office than send supplies where he
thought they were needed and respond
quickly TO acquisitions. All this. he
declared most positively, a been
done.
General Beaver-"Were you at any
time hampered in the discharge OF the
duties of your Office by any OF your
superiors In the department."
General sterberg hesitsted consider
ably and said: mo. certainly not, TO
any appreciable extent"
There was a pause and General
~sternberg FASTENED to add: You will
understand that n man cannot do ev-
erything at once. and there were
occasional delays in getting the ear Of
the secretary, but nothing beyond this"
Then" said General Beaver. 1--WE
are 10 understand you had at all times
the hearty support and good will OF
shose over o in forwarding the work
OF your department."
Yes" was the reply, most undoubt-
edly."
AS to the general condition OF troops
IN mobilization camps. he said the trou-
BILE could nearly all. be summed up in
two phrases: Neglect OF sanitary
measures" and letting the troops re-
main too long in one camp"
You have TO do one of two things"
said he. You must maintain your per-
n camp under the sanitary condi-
tions of civilized life. or you must fol-
low the Indian method M shift your
camp when you foul your ground. I
can make rules which. ~ followed. will
insure reasonable immunity from ty-
phoid. but I canno insure their being
followed by the men IN the field"
As to a new ration for the tropics. /
General Sterberg said he had made no
specific recommendation yet. but had
a competent officer now investigating /
the Methods OF the British army In ia
maica and hoped soon TO be able 10
make a report.
Touching the subject of women
nurses. General Sternberg said. serious
ly. but somewhat sadly. that they were
expensive Injuries" He said the war
department was getting acquisitions
now for bureaus. rocking chairs and
other things which were unknown un-
der the male nurse regime.