The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-08
Several Witnesses Examined by Gem
eraI Dodge, Colonel Sexton and
DIR. Common at Chicago.
ARMY OFFICERS CRITICISED
FOR NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT SUP
PLIES FOR THE SICK.
Lengthy Statements by DIR. Louis
SchOOIer, DIR. Milo d. Ward, DR..
Nicholas Sem and Others.

CHICAGO, Nov. 7-General Dodge, Col
Sexton and DR.. Conner, of the war investi-
eating commission, arrived in Chicago to-
day and Immediately began the examina-
ton of witnesses at the Auditorium Hotel.
A large number of witnesses are on the list
and it is not likely that the three members
of the commission will be able to leave
Chicago before Wednesday. They will then
leave for Detroit, where the investigation
will be continued. From Detroit the COM
missioners will go direct to Washington.
DR.. Louis Schooler. of Des Moines, Ia,
was the first witness to testify to-day.
From June to July II DR.. Schooler was
stationed at Camp Thomas as chief surgeon
of the Second Division, Third Corps. Cues
toned by DR.. Connor, he said that during
the time he was there the sanitary condi-
lions in the hospitals were not very good;
that the sinks in the whole division We're
bad. owing principally to the character of
the ground, ard the discipline was rather
lax AT the opening" said Dr.. Schooler
there were practically no facilities for the
care of the sick; we were short of medicines
and had no apparatus by which the stew
ards could prepare the medicines that we
had. The regimental hospitals, all but one
or two, were as poorly supplied with medi-
cines as the division hospitals. Requisi-
tions We're made for more, but they
generally disapproved at the camp head
quarters. The supply department had GER
tain hours for issuing supplies, and at other
times nothing could be obtained. There was
a scarcity of beds in the hospitals. AT one
time practically half our nursing force was
sick or in the guardhouse for insubordina-
ton"
DR.. Connor-Why was not demand made
by somebody that better or more nurses
should be sent to that place?
DR.. Schooler-I don't know. wrote the
surgeon general once, protesting against
the difficulty of securing supplies. Part of
the blame rested on the quartermaster's de-
partment.
DISPUTE AS TO TENTS.
Asked to give, in as few words as possible,
his opinion about the general conditions at
Camp Thomas during the time he was sta
toned there DR.. schooler said: 'In the
first place, the quartermaster and surgeons
could not agree as to the number of tents
we should have. Colonel Lee contended
that we were limited to a certain number
Of tents seventeen, / think, it was in the
beginning. We afterwards prevailed on him
to give us twenty-one. His contention was
that he could not issue tents beyond the
prescribed number. 1 think he based the
number of tents upon $50 patients, and when
the number Of patients became greater we
| could not make him understand that
should have more tents 1t was his refusal
to increase the number of tents that made
the overcrowding. The lack of medicines,
the lack OF trained nurses and the lack of
sufficient number of surgeons was ma
! terial difficulty. One cause of the preVa-
| lence of sickness in the camp was that we
had three regiments who came there with
a great deal Of sickness-the First Missis-
| sippi and the First and Second Arkansas.
| these regiments. 1 think the quartermas-
| ter's department was largely responsible for
| the great sickness; the medical department
| that is the supply Department. was also
| sponsible for some things. Then we lacked
facilities to make reports on-did not have
even stationery. We were told all the time
that reports must be made"
DR.. Connor-So far as you know, was
there, on the part of any medical officer or
the sick?
DR.. schooler-No. SIR The great difficulty
was in obtaining supplies. and 1 think the
hitch came between Colonel HartSuff and
the medical supply department.
For, the successful care of the sick DR..
Schoolcr considered the division hospital far
superior to regimental hospitals. Il left on
the 18th of July" he said, before any cpl
deInic. had set in; In my Judgment the re-
SpoLSibility for the continuance of the con-
ditions there does not rest upon the division
surgeons"
THE WATER SUPPLY.
In regard to the water supply at the camp,
DR.. Schroeder stated that he did not think
any of the surgeons in his division consid-
cred the water fit to drink. And, again,
there were not enough teams at the dis
posal of the officers to enable them to bring
sufficient water. Upon several occasions"
he said, 1T visited the ground situated
around where the supply was taken from
the river. and felt convinced from what 1
saw that much of the prevailing disease
was caused by the negligence of the polio
ing department in allowing the soldiers to
go at will through the woods situated along
the banks of the stream" He gave this
reason for many of the cases of typhoid
fever existing in the camp.
Another feature which contributed largely
to the sick list, in the opinion of the doctor,
was the laxlty shown in issuing passes to
the men and allowing them to visit other
camps; FIFTY per cent OF the Sickness,
existence had the men not been allowed to
leave Chickamauga on passes" He gave
as his opinion that the medical officers were
hampered too much by officers of higher
rank, but who had no medical training. In
| regard to division hospitals the doctor said:
Il think there should have been hospital
in Chattanooga where class of patients
should have been taken who were going to
be sick any length of time. The division
ed 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 over
worked.
Mrs. Virginia F. Betz. of Chicago. was
the next witness. She entered complaint in
| regard to the death of her son, Frank T.,
who enlisted with Company l., First Ill-
nos Volunteers. He became sick at San
tiago, and was taken to Montauk the
transport Berlin. From there he was com
pelled TO go home furlough, when he
should have been sent to the hospital. He
was sent home entirely unattended. and
was compelled to ride in day coach in
stead of being provided with a berth in a
sleeping car He arrived home on Sept. l,
and on Sept. 10 he died. 1t was the opinion
of Mrs Betz that the medical officers
should have sent him 20 the hospital, or if
he must be sent home, she claimed that he
should have had an attendant.
FOOD POORLY COOKED.
Dr. Milo B. Ward. of Kansas City, Mo,
who was a brigade surgeon at Camp
Thomas from July u to Sept. TO- when
asked as to the condition Of the hospitals
said that there was a great lack of medi-
cines, only some of the very simplest medi-
cines being on hand. 1.-THE food which was
| furnished the men," said he, II would not
want to give to my pet dog" He said
the food would have been all right had it
been properly cooked, but In the shape in
which it was brought to the men, it was
! enough to make anybody sick The doctor
| was then questioned as to the lack of at
| tention shown patients just coming down
| with disease. The doctor said he knew of
| several cases where the patient was al
| lowed to lie out on the ground the whole
| day and also during the night before being
| taken to the hospital. The doctor WAS ques-