The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-09
PUTTING ON WHITEWASH
Proceedings of the War Investi-
eating COMMITTEES.
THE HOSPITALS CROWDED
Sinks Bred Disease-Eighty-Six Per Cent
OF the Cases Typhoid-Deaths
From Over-Feeding-Orders
Were Not Obeyed.

Washington. Oct. s.-The war inves-
tigating commission examined two wit
nesses to-day. They were DIR. Giffin,
who was In charge OF the Sternberg
hospital at Camp Thomas. C..rckamau-
ga park. Georgia, and Captain Bald
ridge. brigade commissary Of subsis-
tence at Camp Cuba Libra at Jackson
Vile.
The commission has practically de-
cided to start on the night OF the 18th
on its round OF the various camps. They
will go either to Camp Meade or to
Jacksonville first. All the camps will
be visited In succession. but the trip
to w!kon will not be made until some
time In November. Next week will be
given largely to the inspection Of OFF,
cial reports and to other statements
that have been furnished In answer
to letters.
Major Emmett Gfffin. formerly brisa-
der surgeon at Camp Thomas. to-day
gave testimony before the war depart
ment investigating commission. He
said there were sufficient physicians at
the camp and they were competent
men. The hospitals. however. were
badly crowded. Sinks were poorly To-
DIR. Giffin was given charge OF the
construction of the Sternberg hospital
on the first OF August. and after the
hospital was constructed was the chief
surgeon there. He said the tents COM
prising the hospital were 14x15. foored
and supplied with four beds each.
There were 100 tents and a number of
wooden buildings; 533 was the largest
number OF men at the hospitals at one
time. and all told l.127 men had been
healed up to the 6th inst OF these So
per cent. were typhoid. the next most
prolific causes being venereal troubles.
There had been 81 deaths at the in
stitution. The cases sent to him were
generally the most dangerous. He had
25 contract surgeons and two regulars.
and 167 female nurses and 159 mem bers
OF the hospital corps acting as nurses.
He had received no complaints and he
was sure the attendants are efficient
His requisitions were sent direct to the
surgeon general at Washington, often
by wire. and there was never any de-
lay. often being directed TO purchase
at Chattanooga. Many articles were
sent to the men from the North, but as
a rule they spoiled before they arrived.
When patients began to convalesce they
were put on a special diet for a week
and then furloughed and sent home.
He was particular not to allow any of
the patients to leave for home until
they were sufficiently recovered to rem
der II safe for them to do so. He re-
lated how Governor Bradley OF Ken
lucky came to the hospital saying he
had come to take the Kentucky men
home. DIR. Giffin refused at first. but
afterwards consented to leave the mat
ter to the patients themselves. Out OF
is only one said he wanted to go. and
he was insane.
DIR. Giffin had no complaint of ne
glect to make against any OF the off,
cials OF the war department and he had
heard Of only one complaint. There
were no matches for "a hours. He
thought that the contract surgeons
should have been examined before they
were appointed. They were not so ex-
amfned TO his knowledge. The doctor
expressed the opinion that the COM
plants Of starvation had arisen from
the fact that IL was necessary to put
convalescents from typhoid fever on a
sparse diet. He thought that many
deaths had been caused by over feeding
after the convalescents returned 10
their homes. Orders were given to his
for prompt measures looking
to the suppression Of the fever when
IL broke out, but the orders had not
been obeyed. He knew OF more cases
In which the sinks were to the last
Nltnlu ~ rect OF the kltcnenS, ana In
the cases OF the 14th Minnesota and 9th
Pennsylvania regiments the sinks were
crowded near the kitchens when there
was a quarter OF a mile OF open field
back of them. He thought Il had been
a mistake to locate SO many men to-
gether as were at Camp Thomas.
acquisitions had been honored prompt |
ly.
Il got everything asked for. from |
a toothpick up. and was turned down |
on nothing" he said.
Captain James c. Baidridge, COM |
missary of subsistence for the First |
brigade of the Second division OF the |
seventh army corps. now at Camp |
Cuba Libre. Jacksonville. occupied the |
during the afternoon. He |
reached the camp on Aug. and made |
an inspection OF the kitchens. He found \
some Of them not well managed. as all |
of the army cooks were not experts. |
Green coffee was preferable to the |
as IL was stronger and fresher. |
The meat he considered good. The men |
were literally supplied with food and |
the location OF the camp was good.
Still. there had been an increase Of /
disease. which he attributed to the cli-
mate and the assembling Of a large /
body OF men. He also thought decaying
fruit and the canteen beer had had an
influence in producing disease.
Much OF his testimony related to COM
plants from the End New Jersey regi-
ment. He said there had been many
from this regiment. and in
had shown the trouble was
iue to the fact that the officers were