The times., 1898-12-09
4 STORY OF MISTAKES
The Surgeon General Before
the Alger Relief Board.
PHYSICIANS WERE SCARCE
Typhoid Fever Diagnosed as Ma
inrfa - An Incomplete Surgical
Force Sadly Ovcrworked - The
Mysterious Shortage OF Medicines
-Kecommen TO BE Made.

Surgeon General Sternberg monopo-
lized about all Of the time of the Alger
Relief Commission yesterday. Conclud-
ing his testimony he admitted that mis-
takes had been made in the care and
treatment of soldiers during the late
war. But, he said. these mistakes were
not due to carelessness or neglect: they
were the result of inexperience and an
inadequate service. and this. notwfth-
standing the fact that the Government
had spared no money or pains to make
the medical department; efficient for the
occasion
His department. he said, had been run
on the basis OF an army of 5000 men
the regular establishment previous to the
trouble with Spain. 1t was sufficient in
strength to look after that organization.
but ii was wholly out of proportion to
the regular and volunteer armies COM
bined
The act of Congress calling for vol
unteers provided for the appointment of
$50 contract doctors. The medical de-
partment hastily availed itself of the ser
vices of these men. As a rule, they were
young physicians. but OF excellent quail
ifications. 1t was n rule to choose
energetic. ambitious young men. He
recognized the fact that men who had
had field experience were needed, but
feared that those who served during the
rebellion were too old 10 do good serv-
ice in this emergency. He made mis-
take in not insisting on the appointment
of some of these veterans. He now sees
that they would have been invaluable
in advising and instructing the younger
men.
He said that falsely based hopes had
led the physicians at Chickamauga and
other camps into error at the breaking
out of the typhoid fever. Each day
they believed the next would bring a
better condition Of things. Instead of
improvement. however, matters grew
worse until control of the disease was
almost lost
Typhoid and malarial fever, said Sur
geon General Sternberg. bear a close re-
semblance to each other during the early
stages. This fact led to the belief that
many men, when first attacked, had ma
laria, while they We're actually suffering
from typhoid fever. When the true con-
dition of the patient was learned there
was nothing to do but let the fever run
its course.
There were not as many doctors, con-
Gnued the Witness at Chickamauga and
other infected camps during the typhoid
siege as there might have been and
those who were there were worked be-
yond their capacity. As soon as he
learned Of the true condition of the
Chickamauga camp he made Il report
which resulted in breaking it up.
At the afternoon session of the COM
sumed his testimony He said that he
had expected a great deal of sickness at
Santiago. Thirteen thousand regulars
went on that expedition. He sent thirty
six army surgeons and twenty contract
surgeons with them, and added eighteen
others to this number later on. He had
believed these would be able to attend
to the needs of the sick. but he was call
ed on for more assistance and it was sent
rapidly as qualified men could be OBJ
tanned.
He said he was aware that there was
a great deal Of sickness among the troops
when they left Santiago for Montauk
To make this worse. many who appeared
well when they started became sick be-
fore they arrived. In view of their COM
ing and their condition, Surgeon General
Sternberg said that the camp at Montaul
was loaded with quinine. He was unable
of medicines and hospital equipment at
Santiago. There was an ample supply
sent BY his department for the needs If
the troops there.
Montauk, he said. was originally intend
ed as a recuperating camp for returned
soldiers from Cuba. Gen. Sternberg visit
ed the site at the request of the adjutant
general before the camp was located He
said he looked upon IL as the best loca-
tion-for the original purposes to be found
on the Atlantic coast
His department Gen. Sternterg added.
had experienced great difficulty In pre ar
ing for the sick at the beginning of the
war. This was the result of the RAPIDLY
with which the army was brought to-
gether. If he had had an adequate corps
of medical men at first he could have done
much better As things were. he and his
assistants tried TO do what reasoning and
prudent men would have done. Their ey-
cry effort was directed toward the COM
fort and welfare of the soldiers who fell
TO their care.
As for the causes of typhoid fever at
chickamauga and other camps, he re-
marked it was simply the neglect of
proper sanitation and remaining too long
on the same ground. Gen. Flagler chief
of the ordnance department of the army.
took the stand after Gen. Sternberg had
concluded and gave the commission infor-
nation regarding the powder and arms
used.
Gen. Sternbers was asked to make sug-
gestions for the improvement of the sarv-
ice. He explained that. in his annual re-
port, now being prepared, he recommend
ed an enlarged medical department. He