The age-herald., 1898-08-30
TAKES ISSUE
 WITH THE EXPERTS Dr. A. H. Simonton, Assistant
 Surgeon in J. s. Army WRITING FROM SAN TACO
Pronounces the Prevailing Maiady Among the Troops as Pernicious Malaria, Not fellow Fever
 Want News from Home.


 Dr. A. H. Simonton, of this city, who was appointed assistant surgeon in the United States army on July 20, and ordered to re- port to General Shafter at Santiago, writ ing from the general field hospital at that place, where he was assigned to duty, takes issue with the "experts" as to the nature of the prevailing fever which is de- vastating the ranks of the army.
 He says that the malady is pernicious malaria and typhoid fever and not yellow fever as is generally supposed. Writing under date of August Il he says:
 After notification of my appointment reported to Surgeon-General Sternburg at Washington and was ordered to New York to report on board United States hos pital ship Olivette for transportation to Santiago there to report to Major-General Shafter in person for assignment to duty. I reported and was assigned duty in this hospital.
 'I left Washington with the understand ing that I was to go into yellow fever work, and from letters received yesterday, I learn that home friends think, as I did. that the prevailing fever is yellow fever. You will be surprised at my report when l say that can learn of but four cases of yellow fever in this military district and I question the diagnosis in those cases. They are in the yollew fever hospital some miles down the bay. I had three cases of yellow fever assigned to me by the yellow fever experts, one of whom died before I could finish the emergency work I was then engaged in and get to him, but I promptly reported the cases typhoid fever and maintained my position and diagnosis and results proved that was correct.
 Another case of yellow fever was brought to camp, which was by experts pronounced a typical case of yellow fever. I examined it carefully, but could find no symptoms of yellow fever. had the case assigned to Dr. Geo. A. McHenry, from McHenry, Miss, without mentioning my differing with the experts on diagnosis in the case; he kept the case over night, then reported it as not yellow fever, but as cramps from overheating and the man was sent to his regiment. We think but little of the opinions or diagnoses if so-called yell low fever experts, finding our own to be more correct. The experts are needlessly alarming our friends at home and should be called down promptly.
 ''I believe that the army would be bet ter of if it was yelIaw fever for the suf- fering would be less, the mortality less and the after effects less than we now get from the pernicious malarial fever and from the typhoid fever now cutting our men down 50 rapidly.
 ""To show to you my source of informa- ton I will say l daily sit at table with Colonel Havard, chief surgeon of this di- vision; Major Robinson, chief surgeon of this hospital; Dr. Godfrey, the chief clerk in Colonel Pope's office and last night talked with Colonel Pope, chief surgeon of the Fifth army corps. These men handle all the medical reports and my informa- tion from every hospital except this one comes from the official sources named.
 q see this hospital work for myself, and every fourth day I am medical officer of the day and must know the condition of this entire hospital.
 '~There are about 15,000 soldiers in the corps, nearly 1000 sick, with a death rate of ten or fifteen men, averaging thirteen per day, which we are trying to lessen
 'The sick come to us in horrible condi- tion, many detrious, parched with thirst, burning with fever, dirty, and suffering with dysentery. We put them to bed, give them baths and clean clothes at once, also ice cold lime juice water, then settle down to combat the disease. Drinking men invart- ably die in spite of all we do for them.
 Tt is sad to see the hero soldier boys die, and be buried so far from home. long to go out with every one and have service over the remains, but my duties prevent my doing it. In fact, am on duty eighteen to nineteen hours per day. We usually have forty patients each, and visit them often, making three hundred or more single visits per day.
 "Our hospital Is on the site of the battle- field of July 1 and 2. The Spanish rifle pits are not over fifty feet from my tent and two Spanish batteries are located within 25O yards of the tent. I gather war relics any and everywhere. I am preparing, on my return home, to lecture on Cuba AS I Saw It. So am gathering information and material"
 Dr. Smonton also writes that they have no news from the states since the papers of July %, and asks if peace has been re- stored and if any power has attempted to interfere in the Philippines He also wants to know If Dewey has sunk any German ships.