The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-08

judgment, the responsibility for the
continuance of the conditions does not
rest upon the division surgeons"
In regard to the water supply at the
camp, DR.. Schooler stated that he did
not think any of the surgeons in his
division considered the water fit to
drink. And again, there were not
enough teams at the disposition of the
officers to enable them to bring suffi-
cient water. Upon several occasions he
had visited the ground near where the
supply was taken from the river and
felt convinced that much of the pre-
vatling disease was caused by the neg
ligence of the policing department In
allowing the soldiers to go at will
through the woods situated along the
banks of the stream. He gave this as
reason for many of the cases of ty-
phoid fever existing in the camp. An
other feature which contributed largely
to the sick list in the opinion OF the
doctor, was the laxity shown In issuing
passes to the men and allowing them tc
visit other camps. Fifty per cent OF
the sickness" said the doctor, would
not have been in existence had the man
not been allowed to leave Chickamau-
ga park on passes"
He gave as his opinion that the med
icai officers were hampered too much
by officers of higher rank, but who had
no medical training. In regard to di-
ision hospitals, the doctor said: II
think there should have been a hos
pital in Chattanooga, where a class of
patients could have been taken who
were going to be sick any length of
time.
The division hospital" he continued,
was never intended for cases where
patients were going to be sick any
length of time"
When questioned as to the lack OF
nurses, the doctor said that he thought
both the nurses as well as the officers
were overworked.
DR.. Milo B. Ward of Kansas City,
who was brigade surgeon at Camp
Thomas from July u to September 10,
when questioned as to the condition
of hospitals, said that there was a
great lack of medicines. "The food
which was furnished the men," said he,
I would not want to give to my pet
dog"
DR.. Conner asked, Ibid you ever see
man on the bare ground propped up
against tree in a dying condition, who
died within two or three hours after
he was put there?"
DR.. Ward said: IT never saw such a
thing; but often heard of it. I don't be-
AACNE II CNCI DCCuEISu.
DIR. Conner asked: What was the
reason that the Second division hospi-
tai Of the Third army corps had the
worst reputation of any hospital dur
ing the war;"
DR.. Ward replied: 1.-THE first reason.
in my judgment, is that the hospital
had for its corps surgeon a man who
never paid any attention to it what
ever. His name was Hoff. The next
reason is that the man in charge of
the hospital, the division surgeon, very
seldom visited the hospital or paid any
attention to it. His name was Jenny.
Another reason is that there were not
enough doctors at any time to take
care of the patients without overwork-
ing the doctors, and making them too
i'll to get out of bed. For the first two
weeks that l was there, there was not
man on duty who was physically fit
for duty. The next reason is that the
nurses were never competent in any
sense of the word, but they did the
best they could when you consider their
ignorance. Some Of them could not even
read. They were forced to do this work
under protest, and Of course they did
only what they We're obliged to do.
"Hoff had no respect for individuals
He made no difference with what an
individual wanted: he was only ane out
of thousands. Only when / was phys
ically exhausted and not able to do
| the work, he said: I don't care a
d-n for you. sir; you are only one
man; you are invaluable in the hos
pital and ! cannot spare you
But / told him / was not able to
continue the work, and must be re-
lieved for two weeks. Jenny left
everything with the men in the hos
pital. | know that acquisitions made
for goods and supplies were approved
by the doctors, but they We're not
brought to the grounds, because of the
fault of somebody else. l think that
was the fault of The doctors in charge
of the hospitals, the corps doctors, the
division doctor and the doctor in i'm
mediate charge of the hospital. They
made requisition, but it is necessary
to do more than that; man had to get
on horse, take six-shooter and de-
mand these necessary supplies from
the quartermaster."