The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-04
Cause Of Spread Of Typhoid Fever
in Camps.
REPORT OF ARMY SURGEONS
Say They Are Thoroughly Convinc-
Site Changes

/ WASHINGTON. - Surgeon-General
/ geons in the field copies of the report
submitted by board OF medical Off
GERS, consisting of Majors and Sur
geons Walter Reed. u. S. A. and Vic
1 tor E. Vaughan, L. S. V. appointed
to inquire into the causation and
spread of typhoid fever in the camps
in the United States. The report
| says that the fly is largely responsible
for the spread of typhoid fever in the
camps.
Although we are not as yet ready
to come to a definite conclusion con-
corning the causation and means OF
spread of this disease the board says,
I'VE feel quite thoroughly convinced
that the fly has been an important fac
tor in it's dissemination. We are also
convinced that so long as the present
method of disposing of focal matter
in the camps is continued. it will be
quite impossible to eradicate this dis
ease. We believe that the baciIli are
/
and that the tentage, bedding and
clothing of the soldiers have become
more or less infected with the germs
of typhoid fever, and we think that
radical steps should be taken to de-
stroy Lhls infection. Until this is done
We are convinced that changes of camp
sites will be of little or no avail"
The board made a number of recon-
mendations for the Improvement Of the
sinks in military camps and for the
proper disinfection of blankets, tents
and clothing. In conclusion the report
says:
In the opinion of the board no time
should be lost in the Inauguration and
Otherwise, we are firmly convinced
that typhoid will continue to prevail
until late fall at least. Moreover, even
atCer the fly is paralyzed by the cold
weather, the infected bedding and tent
age will cause a continuance of the
disease
The Surgeon-General referred the re-
port of the board to Lieut.-Col. Charles
Smart, Deputy SUPERINTENDENT, for
his opinion, and Lieut.-Col. Smart took
issue with some of the views OF the
board. He says that the experiences
of the Second Army Corps in August
and September did not sustain the
board in its assertion that until radi-
hnnn toll n
stroy the infection, changes of camp
site will be of little or no avail. Troops
in removing from an infected site to
new ground, he says, will carry with
them only the infection in men in the
! incubatOry stage. Tents, clothing,
blankets, etc, says Col Smart, are dis
! infected by exposure to sun and air
on the new ground. Cases developed
| in infected men can be removed to hos
/ pital and in ten days or two weeks
! the command will be practically free
/ from the disease, and when camped on
/ fresh ground will remain free from all
except sporadic cases, if the camp has
!proper sanitary government.
! In his communication TO chief sur
geons. transmitting the boards report
Gen Sternberg says: Where condi-
tons are not entirely satisfactory for
digging sinks of proper depth the rec
concentrations of the board should be
adopted and watertight troughs should
be used as suggested. Special attention
is invited to the recommendation OF
the board that every opportunity
should be taken to expose blankets and
bedding TO the sunlight Infected
tents, cIoOuIng and bedding should be
disinfected by steam by boiling water
or by a 5 per cent solution of carbolic
acid"