The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-10-25

gaAN44f A& 81
rha- 1bere were in the latter days ~ IT,,
Nor" added the doctor. 10 think
that the history Of the world has ereT
S4on q parallel 10 our present care OF
thu sick
Taking mp the present condition # the
HOSPITALS be said there were 2op trained
female nurses now 81 work here lie
said the employment Of these nurses
had proved entirely satiSf2e eorv.
Replying 10 a question. DR.. M11s S7ad
that after the first few days there had
been exceptional promptitude- lie hat
never seen such utter diregard q eX-
rcnse In caring for sick soldiers A.
} matter II fact. the troops had q
greater allowance Of rations Tlan they
could use or dispose Of il any way.
Ne 5LIGENCE or SURGEONS.
He thought typhoid had been intro
duccd into the camp ny Mississippi and
VIRGINIA rroors. shallow wells and sur
face drainage had lone much to increase
the scource. He also thought the flies
had done much 10 disseminate fever.
DR.. Maus said h had found It difficult
To- prevail upon surgeons III the voluH-
tccr service 10 learn the adminlStra-
tive duties If their positions. Often IN
the early history If the war some Of the
volunteer recincnral surgeons had been
found negligent in the matter Of inspec-
ton. but later or sanitation became the
principal duty OF everybody about the
camp. Much trouble had been expert
cnced in keeping the public from
the hospitals. In many cases they had
surreptitiousIy carried food 10 the sick.
DR.. Mlus also dwell upon the newspa-
per reports of the suffering in the camp.
saying they had generally grown out Of
exaggerated statements from the men
themselves.
Or. Maus thought the fever was now
Decreasing. He mentioned one instance
In which serious sickness had followed
the Use Of tainted meat and said he had
heard Of I few other instances in which
poor meat had been issued.
Or. Maus WIS questioned IN regard to
the camp II Miami. He said he he'd
investigated Il aud found il to be IN
suitable on account Of the water. which
analysis had shown To be Impure. He
also thought Tampa UnSuited 10 4 large
army camp. He said III response to 2
criticism from Il Jacksonville lady that
General Lee had given the most careful
attention L. the hospitals: that he made
frequent calls on the sick non ana Cd
much 10 cheer them up.
=. letter was read from Mrs. Gordon.
wife of General ". W. Gordon. in re-
lation 10 the hospital at Mimi. in which
she made serious charges, among others
one 10 the effect that Il hospital nurse
had become intoxicated and set fire TO a
patients bed. burning him somewhat.
and another that flies were often found
crawling into the mouths of dying pa
TENTS. Mr.. Naus had "A report from Or.
Villas. III charge Of the hospital. read.
admitting the statement concerning the
burning Of Il patients bed. but denying
MI others. Or. Mans expressed the
opinion that the charges were cxagger-
atcd.
COL. WOOD TALkS OF FOOD.
Colonel Oliver Z. Wood. chief com
miSsary at Camp Cuba Libre. under
General Lee. was before the commission
at its afternoon session. He had occu-
pied his position since the DIST of May
and he had been able durin- all this
time 10 fully meet all acquisitions made
upon him for supplies. and there had
never been any lack Of them. Is Il rule
also the quality was excellent. At first
there had been trouble with the bacon
and about 10000 pounds Of il had been
spoiled and therefore condemned and or
dcred destroyed. There had also been
weayi,s in some of the hard bread. but
it had never been issued when found to
he bad. All the fresh beef was secured
from Armour < Company and was
brought to the camp in refrigerator
cars.
W q rule the meat was excellent, and
i'll case where the meat was not good
the contractors had replaced it without
requiring official condemnation. Yet it
was necessary either to cook refri@cra-
tor meat or put it on ice III order to pre-
vent It's spelling i'm this climate. In this
| connection Colonel Wood read Il letter
be had written to General Lee in re-
Spouse to a complain made by Colonel
William Jennings Bryan concerning the
beef. In this letter he said thai if beef
was spoiled if was generally due to the
almost criminal negligence of regiment
and company officers. He said also in
the letter that the beef must be inspect
ed when issued: that this inspection must
be final and after this no complaint
could be entertained.
COMMAND SHORT OF STORES.
Capt. Chauncey Y. Baker. chief GUAR
termaSter. was also examined during the
afternoon session. He had been in
Jacksonville from the beginning Of the
camp on the 21St Of May. but at that
time was quartcrmaster for the Second
corps. He said that when he arrived
the command was short Of all kinds of
stories. and that he had been
unable IL the beginning to meet al requi-
sitions for supplies when made by III.
regiments as they arrived. There had
for instance been some trouble in SGcur-
ing tentage. There WIS also shortage
in clothing, ana in most cases he had
assumed the responsibility of making
purchases. and his course had afterwards
been approved. The first clothing re-
celvcd was not of good quality. but il
was afterwards improved. However. tho
men Were. as a rule, glad enough to
get anything and there was no complaint
Indeed th" troops had manifested Il dis
position To he satisfied with whatever
they received. Captain Baker said that
he attributed whatever delay bad been
experienced TO the necessity Of euuippine
80 large an army in so brief Il time,
and he thought that Hndpr the circum-