The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-12-09
RECALL OF MAJOR DAVIS
CAME AT HIS URGENT REQUEST
TO WASHINGTON.
Nothing Strange or Unusual About 1t
Relief Expected for Some Time
The Sick.

The fact that Major Davis will be
relieved from duty at the military
hospital in few days was not a sur
prise to him nor to any one else. Moth
ing less was anticipated or was to he
expected. Major Davis is chief sur
geon of the First New York regiment,
and as much part of that regiment
as is Colonel Barber, Major Sague or
Chaplain Schwartz. The hospital at
Independence park is military and
not regimental hospital.
When the hospital was established
here the surgeon general at Washing
ton considered himself fortunate, if
letter from him expressed his feel
ings, in having a man like Major Da-
vls on the ground who could be plac-
ed in charge of it temporarily. 1t was
understood at the time that as soon as
one of the regular surgeons, of a rank
equal or above major, could be spared
he would be sent to take charge. IT
was the regular and natural course to
have the hospital in the hands of
regular army surgeon.
few weeks ago when it was sus
pected that the New York regiment
would he ordered home, Major Davis
wired the surgeon general at Wash
ington that he would like to be reliev-
ed in time to go away with his regi-
ment. The reply was that a substi-
tute would be sent as soon as possible.
1t was expected that the relief would
come in two or three weeks. With
this idea in view, Colonel Barber, un-
der whose orders Major Davis is. is
sued instructions before he sailed for
the coast that the surgeon should re-
main here until relieved.
The coming of Major Wood to take
charge was not a surprise, but, on the
contrary, was just what was expected.
AS soon as the new man acquainted
himself with the situation here Major
Davis will sail to join his regiment.
which has been in charge of IA mere
battalion surgeon since the companies
left here.
Conditions at the hospital are great
ly improved. There ale only a few ca
ses now that can possibly be reckon
ed as serious. In all of the wards the
men look bright and cheerful. An eN-
perienced corps of nurses go among
them day and night, and they have
medical attention at all hours. The
work is thoroughly systematized. Ev-
cry morning there is an accurate tab
ulation of the condition Of each man
in all of the hospitals during the night
so that each specific case can he
gotten at in Il moment.
Major Wood, who has been busy
looking over the hospitals, the sick
and the system of handling the large
number of cases, is loud in his praises
of the condition of things. He says
he has never in his long experience
seen set of military hospitals so
thorough and perfect in their general
systems.
Since the hospital was established
at Independence park in August 1900
cases have been treated. OF this num-
ber 400 were typhoid and 500 malarial
fever. approximately per cent of
the typhoid cases have been lost This
for military hospital, with the men
weakened by exposure and the change
of climate which they have experience
ed here, is considered an excellent rec
ord. In Montreal, where are the best
hospital arrangements and conditions
are in every way more favorable, the
death rate in typhoid fever for the
past twenty years has been ~ per
cent. In the United States it ranges
from to 15 per cent.