The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-21

pied from monthly reports OF SICK and
wounded received from May to Sep
TENDER, inclusive, and representing a
strength present of 167, 16S men. These
give full particulars of 1,715 deaths, of
which number $40 were occasioned by
typhoid fever, ninety seven by malarial
feverS and 393 by diarrhoea and dySen-
terry. The death rates for May and
June, forty-six- hundredths and seven
ty-hundredths were not, in excess of the
army in time of peaceA In July the
rate became somewhat higher than
that of most Well-cared- cities, 2.15
for the month, or the equivalent of an
annual rate of $3.50 per 1000 living. In
August it became excessive, 4.07, equal
to an annual rate of 1896 per 1000. In
September the influence of measures
taken in July and August to improve
the health of the army becomes mani
fest in the falling of the death rate to
2.45, or the equivalent of an annual
rate Of 29.40. The progression came to
an acme in August, with a sudden
fall in September in various ratios
given under the specific titles, typhoid
fever, malaria fever and diarrhoeal DIS
eases. This is exceedingly gratifying
and must be credited. as stated, to the
sanitary measures adopted, for our ex-
perience in the civil war demonstrates
that in the absence Of these measures
the high ratio of August would have
been continued for many months to
come.
From tables of absolute numbers and
of ratios by which the incidents OF sick
ness and mortality of the regular and
volunteer troops may be contrasted, it
will be seen that the exposures of the
regular troops in the Santiago cam
caign gave them from June to Septem-
Der a higher death rate than the vol
unteers, and that the rate of the latter
for August, the month of maximum
mortality, was 1852, as compared with
5.SS among the regular troops.
VOLUNTEER RELIEF WORK.
Ny guiding principle throughout the
war has been that relief when needed,
should be promptly accepted without
reference to the source from which it
came. The relief afforded by the Ma
tional Red Cross at Siboney was
promptly accepted by the surgeons on
the spot, but it is evident that it was
entirely inadequate to meet the emer-
gency. This association has had full
authority to send agents and supplies
of various kinds in most liberal man
ner for the use of our field hospitals.
Other organizations which have also
rendered valuable service are the Ma
tional Relief association, having its
headquarters in Philadelphia, and the
Massachusetts Volunteer Aid associa-
ton, with headquarters in Boston.
Both of these organizations fitted out
hospital ships, which were placed at
my service, for transportation of our
sick from Puerto Rico and 1 take
pleasure in testifying to the valuable
services rendered by the yacht May of
the national relief commission and the
hospital ship Bay State of the Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Aid association.
MEDICAL CORPS.
Before concluding my report of the
operations of the medical department,
during our short and glorious war with
Spain, I feel it my duty to call special
attention to efficient services rendered
by the medical officers of the army in
the various responsible positions which
the exigencies of the service have made
it necessary for them to fill.