The times., 1898-09-02

nobody there to assist them quarantine
camp, you know. Upon inquiry, he was
told that no physician had ever asked art
er their suffering from time of detention.
Some of the men were delirious, and all
sick. They had been asking for water
all day without having their thirst graft
fed. The surgeon who was supposed to
have charge of these men was sent for,
and, upon his appearance, he was accus-
ed of being drunk, was drunk, and was
ordered to his quarters in disgrace. HIS
records. blanks. and papers were taken
from him, and the sick were turned over
to our surgeon.
Utter Destitution.
Upon proper investigation it was found
the men were sick when they left Cuba,
and had received a most meager attention
aboard the transports. They were suffer
ing from typhoid fever, intermittent
fever. malarial poisoning and pneumonia.
There was no way of keeping records,
the cots were unnumbered and no desig-
nation of the tents; and our surgeon was
compelled TO mark over each tent with
a lead pencil the number, and give a
number to each mans bed. There were
no nurses and regulars had to be i'm
pressed into the service, and upon send
ing for cups TO administer the medicine
the report came back that there were
no cups, glasses or spoons. A requisition
was made for bed pans for the poor fel-
lows who were suffering from dysentery,
but none could be had. Upon writing
prescriptions and having written ten and
sent them in to the apothecary the lat
ter replied that he could not compound
them because of the lack of necessary
drugs. In short, 1t was necessary for the
doctor to become adapted to the meager
supply of drugs in stock in prescribing
for the sick. Boiled bread and milk were
ordered for the patients, which they
greedily used, and conceded 1t was the
best they had had since they came TO the
hospital. Boxes of earth had to be i'm
provised and brought in to the tents for
the men to use. as they were unable to
walk, and then they had to be helped
from their beds. Thsy were nearly all in
such a stupor that they took very nttie
cognizance of a death in the next bed
Heavy Fault Somewhere.
.Tbev would have to be aroused. and
pleaded for furlough, or to be discharg-
ed. The tents were in most disordered
condition, vomited material, clothing, and
miscellaneous articles scattered around
on the floor and beneath the beds. The
lack of attention was irAronceivable, but
ii was reported that it could not be help
ed-that what surgeons there were were
working night and day-and that as bad
as it is, 1t was not 10 be compared with
/ the conditions in Cuba. DR.. McEvitt has
| been used to hospital scenes for the last
/ fifteen years, but says, and can second
! II, as novice, that nothing has appealed
! to fellows sympathetic emotions so
| strongly as the scenes here during the
| last two days, where young fellows, some
of whom are accustomed to luxury and
| comfort, have to suffer and die in this
way-and the public allowed to read of
| the pleasures and entertainments and
| other attentions so lavishiy bestowed up
on the worthless vanquished Spanish
! prisoners who are paroled, eulogized and
taken back to their homes and cared for.
j There is a heavy fault somewhere but
where it is it is hard to say
Physicians. nurses. food and medicines
are absolute necessities. Thanks to the
| noble work of the Red Cross and aid So
cieties, or the deaths and pine head
/ boards at the graves mere would be in
Vulnerable by this time. We are here in
/ company with the Prairie. Aileen and Ell
! frida and the gunboat Vicksburg. trying
/ to do missionary work the best we car
| with our small boats and steam launches
but expect TO be ordered to Philadelphia
! to the League Island yard to go out OF
! commission every day. when l. with 9TH
ers, VIII probably be detached and or.
| dered homo My best regards to all in.
| quiring friends, hoping you are well. Very
respectfully,
81. F. MIDDLEBRQOK.
Ensign. U. S. n.
"U. S. s. Jason
There are at least 2.o59 sick men here
in the detention hospital. not including
! the general hosnitaL'