Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-08-11


Monroe, Wis, Aug, 9.-Dr. +, W
Byers, surgeon general of the Wiscon-
sin national guard who was sent
south by the governor a couple of
weeks ago to investigate the care and
condition of the sick Wisconsin SOL
diers, returned home Monday and is
now engaged In drafting his report
which he will sumbit to the governor
in a couple OF days. While at Jack
sonville a week ago a member Of the
staff of Gen Fitzhugh Lee told the
surgeon general that Lee had assur-
ances from the administration that he
and his command, the seventh army
corps, would be sent to Havana as
| part of the army OF occupation at the
earliest possible moment after the
| treaty OF peace is signed. The file
of the first Wisconsin regiment and a
majority of the officers are eager TO
! go to cuba and would be greatly dis
! appointed if they were to be sent back
home without seeing any service
whatever. The older men in the reg
iment-men who left business and
families TO respond to the country 5
call--are disposed to lay down their
arms as soon as they are convinced
that the country no longer needs their
services in military capacity
Gen. Byers says that, while he
found conditions at the different hos
pitfalls not exactly as they might be
desired. he was, on the whole, much
better satisfied than he expected tC
be before he visited them. At Jack
sonville he found on the day of hi.
arrival 173 LIST Wisconsin men relieved
from duty on account OF sickness
OF course only a fraction of these
were sick enough TO render it neces
sary TO care for them in the hospital
But, Gen Byers says, the percentage
Of sickness is too large and steps
should be taken to reduce 1t. A
Charleston, which he visited sec nd
he found 200 I'd and Sd Wisconsin
men in splendid hospitals. These lat
ter are managed by sisters of charity
and are models in every respect, This
city hospital has 20 trained Red Gross
nurses The Letter hospital at Chick
amauga in which there are 20 SEX
Wisconsin boys, also has a full corps
of Red Cross nurses. and besides a
company of men has been left there
to assist in caring for the sick.
Gen. Byers says that the unusual
amount Of sickness at Jacksonville is
Cue largely TO ineffciency on the part
of the commissary department and a
desire to do too much work on the part
of the medical staff The sanitary con
dtions also are no. what they should
be. The remedy is to secure greater
efficiency in the commissary depart
ment lessen the weight of the work
of the physicians by a more equitable
distribution Of ii and improve the
sanitary conditions generally. The
recent shifting Of the camp vii
prove very beneficial The old camp
had been occupied continuously for
three months At first ii was al,
right but after awhile IT became per-
meated with refuse The new camp
is on high ground with good drainage
and is altogether a desirable location
The sun is hot but the days are
made cool and pleasant by soft sea
breeze. The camp Is supplied with
board bath houses, enabling the sold
iers to battle in the river and do some
sea bathing. There is a fine beach
a short distance from camp, where
everything seems to be in the best
shape for bathing purposes.
The typhoid fever at Jacksonville
Is not so severe as that diseast
generally proves in the north
In some cases there Is some delylr
and a great deal Of malarial connect
with it, 1t is more Ike typho-ma
lariaI fever
In the field hospitals there are n
nurses but there is no lack OF ho5pita
corps and others who can be presse
into service When the hospital
can be thoroughly organized an
fitted out with the proper appliances
Red Cross and sisters Of charity an
mercy nurses will be put in.
Sick men are naturally unreasor
able and want many things they ha
better no. have and some Of ther
make complaints Cen, Byers think
that With few exceptions they are q
well cared for as possible and man
&c "a good care as they could receiy
al nome