The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-21

soon Enough-Excelient Service
Rendered by Red Cross Society.
WASHINGTON Nov. eA.-Surgeon Gem
eral George NJ. Sternberg has made his re-
port 10 the secretary Of war. II relates
mainly to the work of the medical corps
during the war. The following are the
more important features Of the report:
The number of medical officers. ls2, al
lowed by law 10 the army. is inadequate
| in time of peace. The insuTicieucy in time
| of war was met by the assignment OF over
80 contract surgeons. The very small pro-
portion Of medical officers having experi-
| ence of a military character. impaired the
| efficiency OF the department at the outset
hut many OF the staff surgeons from civil
| lie showed great aptitude for the service
| and speedily became of value aiminstra-
| tive sanitary officers.
No provision was made for hospital corps
| men for the volunteer troops except that
which empowered the secretary ef war To
| enlist any priyates of the hospital corps
| as the service may require.
| The number Of men enlisted and trans
| ferred during the war was approximately
| 6Gp.
The want of sufficient body of trained
| corps men necessitated the detail or en-
| listed men from the regiments for hospital
| duty In several of the camps and the en-
| pioyment OF trained nurses at the general
| hospital. over 100 female nurses have
been employed, at first at the general hos
pitals and later at the field division hos
| pitals. when il became evident that the
| field service purposes for which the latter
had been organized would have to give place
TO the imperative need OF caring for tho
many sick men coming from the regimental
| camps.
Immediately upon the declaration OF war,
| April q. steps were taken to obtain medical
| supplies for the new volunteer army Tho
| manufacture was expedited with the ut
most dispatch. On May 3. foreseeing that
| II would be impossible to have ready for
| issue TO the volunteer regiments as soon an
they were mustered In the necessary arti-
| cies OF field equipment, l teecraphed tho
governors OF the several states for author
| ity TO use the medical equipment of the ma
/ tonal guard In the several states until our
| army medical supplies were ready for is
| sue. Most OF the governors who had field
| equipment responded promptly and sasissac-
toriiy. hut unfortunately many OF tho
state medical departments had no such
| equipment. Meanwhile. the officers In
charge Of the medical supply depots were
! directed to make arrangements so that sup
| plies could ne Immediately obtained for
| 100 GO men for six months.
! Wherever the notice was received from
| the adiutant generals office that COM
| mands were 10 be moved or camps formed.
| / endeavored TO anticipate tho wants OF tho
/ troops 10y teiegraphnF to the officer in
/ charge Of the nearest supply depot 10 for
ward supplies for the state in the number
/ Of men,
Age Limit Too Low.
In my opinion the reduction af the ago
limit from q 10 Is years and the haste with
{ vHf xsTtt fgsa,
izei and mustered into the service were re-
. spcnsihle for much OF the sickness which
was reported In the early days o. the camp
Z life. Al military experience shows that
young men under q years break down rap
idly under the strain Of war service and
every regiment had many Of these youths
in It's ranks. Medical examiners were an
pointed 10 testify "a the physical condition
( ~ each man before acceptance, bat not
withsianding this 50 mary men were after
ward found on the sick lists OF the carnps
/ unfit for service from causes existing prior
+ 10 enlistment, inat special arrangements
had TO te made FOR their discharge
soon after the newly raised ievies were
/ aggregated tn large camps sickness began
/ % increase progressively from causes that
were go general n their operation thas
/ scarcely a regiment escaped from their
/ harmful Influence These causes may large
! y ~ referred 20 iguorane. on the part OF
/ officers Of the principles of camp SANTA
/ ton. and ther duties and responsibilities
/ regards the welfare OF the enlisted men
! IN their comrnandp.
TIE sites Of several Of the camps have
! been tnslanced IN the newspapers az the
/ cause Of the sickness which deye ioush in
( them, but review of the whole situation
! shows that II not the site. but tha
/ manner Of It's occupation which mus, ha
/ held responsible FOR the manner ana spread
/ of disease among the troops April g.
1885 forseeing the lkiihood or unsanitary
! conditions In the camps. ! issued circular
No. l. impreSsing upon medical Officers
their responsibility IN sanitary matters
| and the necessity far n efrtcf sanitary
policy. particularly In the ease Of sickness
and IL the preservation If the camp area
/ from contamination Ffut tne necessity ~
t9e military population on the ~
these contracted CAMPS prevented tie pos
| sltd!ty - good sanitary conditions Camps
- This character may be occupied for a
~eek or r~o ~ 3 tlrne without serious re-
/ suits, a q the case OF national guards
/ men ouy for Ter days practice during the
/ aumuser h9t their cont nGsd occupation
/ will ineFhabiy result iE the breaking down
- ih. conn ind by GEarrnoea Gysentery
( an5 typhoid fever.
Practically anfhirg was dcne "a make tho
/ men comfortable Cr - remedy the fr-
( sanitary conditions unfn These were
I brought 20 IRE attention of the secretary
! q War ~ fns pecfors ssns out from the war
! tieTs rtrrsrt. TEN The camps held for 80
| ,0rG wafe abanSuned. hgt not before the
I Manifestations ~ fypae,d infection uer.
FIFE rs them. New sites we're ressflIt,
1ecsea. regtmaats3 camps were expand
/ -! camp tsnfage Increased and board
aooflnz provided. Then. Tor the first time.