The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-01

for any length OF time. None of the 6t
cents allowance per man for delicacies
has been used, as it was not needed. The
report says OF this hospitsl: There have
been In this hospital at various times
i61 patients from the Eighth New York
volunteers. In a great many cases II
was difficult to tell that anything was
the matter with them. Only 10 percent
OF the sickness from this regiment was
reported as in any way serious. and
when 1t was rumored that the regiment
was to be sent home. several OF those ir
the hospital asked not to be sent, but to
be allowed TO remain throughout theii
convalescence."
The next hospital inspected was the
third division hospital. first corps. In
charge OF Major Thomas Clark. Here
the attendants were found suficient
though in the earlier days there were
not enough surgeons or attendants. The
grounds were In excellent condition, the
tents clean, most OF the tents fioored
and all fioored between the cots For a
time the hospital was a week behind in
obtaining its medical supplies. but this
was before the government had collected
It's medical stores in great quantities.
AS In the other hospitals. the entire
force OF attendants, both officers ard
men. worked with great persistence till
over 25 percent Of the hospitals corps
fell sick. For the last six weeks there
has been no difficulty whatever in OBJ
tanning medical supplies Of every char
acter. The Red Cross has made liberal
donations to this hospital. and friends
In Minnesota have sent great quantities
or delicacies.
Taking up the last OF the field hos.
pitals, that OF the Third corps, second
division. under Major Smith, the re-
port states that So tents are at present
not all occupied. though during the cpl
demic OF measles they were crowded.
There were no Red Cross nurses, and
detail of two ladies from the Chatta-
nooga association has visited the hos
pital daily to cook the lighter food for
the sick. When the hospital was crowd
ed the number OF attendants was insult
ficient. There were also strong COM
plants OF the failure to get medical and
surgical supplies in the earlier days be-
fore the government had been able to
furnish itself, and when II was impossi-
bic to avoid delays incident to rushing
supplies to great army camps. The
requisition papers on file however, show
that the hospital officers made every
effort to obtain full supplies
Leaving the details about the hos
pitals, the report proceeds to treat the |
whole subject generally as follows: !
I'm two OF the hospitals opportunities |
occurred for discovery of what undoubt- |
edly originated many OF the sensational /
stories which have been printed over |
the country to the effect that patients |
In the hospitals lacked sufficient food, |
and In many cases had been on the verge |
OF starvation. In the wards where the |
typhoid fever patients were
found many OF the men were constantly
asking for food, and as a matter OF
course were as constantly denied every
thirg except the lighter forms Of food,
which alone can safely be administered
to recovering typhoid patients. This re-
fusal OF food throughout the hospitals,
by which care alone, as is perfectly un-
derstood, can the lives OF typhoid con-
be saved. has been distorted
into the cry, which has spread through
out the country. that patients were be-
lrg starved In the government hospitals
There has been no lack of proper food
N these hospitals. and competent cooks
'or preparing II have been present; and
he only reason for depriving the pa
)isnts of what so many OF them have |
for has been the necessity of
such dieting as the disease demands.
1T will be observed that the condi-
ions set forth in this report are mainly
present conditions. 1t has not hereto
ore fallen within the range of my duties
It this park to make critical observa-
ions of hospital conditions. AS a mat
er OF course. many features of this divi-
ion Of camp administration have fallen
inder my notice. am constrained to
believe that there has been no neglect
m the part OF either the medical or the
departments to furnish
uch supplies as have reached the camp.
II Will be observed that the report I'm
ach case has been made with reference
o the maximum number OF patients in
ach honhtal. and SO far as IL was possi-
lie to OBTAIN the conditions then exist
ng they are set forth In this report.
'hese are conditions which in times OF
apid increase or disease. a condition
mich was reached at this camp solely
a my judgment from the filth which
90 many OF the regimental officers al
'wed to dominate their camps. in spite
the orders. which would have pre-
ented all this trouble, from the surgeon
eneral and from the commanding OFF,
ers-of this camp. e
so far from believing. as a result of |
~ observations. that medical officers
ave been heartless or negligent, I be-
eve that these officers and the hospital 9
tterdants as n whole have exerted 8
themselves TO discharge their duties G
,ithfully. IL would seem as if this I
'ere sufficiently shown by the fact that Z
1ey have worked INCREASINGLY until a