The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-29
NEGLECT and DISREGARD
Alarming Sanitary Conditions
at Camp Alger.
WHAT INSPECTORS FOUND
The Report of Drs. Vaughn. snakes
peare. and Reed the Board of Wis.,
ftfnE Surgeons, VIII Probably Be
suppressed-Strong Language Used
Made.

The result of the inspection by Drs.
Vaughn, Shakespeare and Reed, the Of
fetal board of visiting surgeons of the
First Division Hospital al Camp Alger'
and the investigation into the manage
ment and conduct of the institution has
not yet been officially given out but
enough of the facts have been unofficially
made public TO show that there has been
the grossest mismanagement and utter
disregard of the simplest and most neces-
sary sanitary precautions and the welfare
of sick and well
Whether the official report of these sur
geons will ever be made public is a matter
of conjecture, but at least one military Of
fetal who is familiar with the recent pri-
vate investigation has not hesitated 10
express in the most emphatic language
his opinion of the conditions which exist
there. For obvious reasons the officer re-
ferred to cannot be quoted as criticising
the military administration. but upon be-
ing promised that his name should not
be made public he has made the following
statement:
What Was Revealed.
BED clothing from the beds of typhoid
fever patients, instead of being thor
oughly disinfected. was spread out on the
grass. and allowed to remain there until
called for by the laundrymen. when it was
jumbled promiscuously in with the linen
of the officers and enlisted men, sick and
well, and all washed together.
When it was returned, because of lack
of proper disinfection, the odor which
attaches to the unclean bed OF a typnoid
fever patient, chung TO it. and the hos
pital was redolent Of it.
There We're no separate wards for
typhoid patients. They were placed side
by side with soldiers suffering with ma
laria, measles and other ailments, and
the same utensils were used by all, and as
a result many a soldier who now is in the
deadly grip Of typhoid owes mis- condition
10 the lack of sanitary precautions in the
institution where he was sent TO be cured
OF a minor disease.
No Possible Excuse.
Plenty of cots were at hand and could
have been secured for the asking. bu
many of the men were compelled 10 sleel
on a blanket. spread on the ground.
in the rear of the wards were the Wa
ter barrels, which contained the watel
used for bathing the patients, drinking
purposes, and washing hospital utensils
1.-The water given the patients TO drini
was neither filtered nor boiled. the barrels
were never washed, and their bottoms
were covered with thick sediment.
"Carelessness on the part of the hospi
tai authorities and attendants is alon
responsible for this condition of affairs
The Sisters of Charity who visit tn
men. daily have done good work, ant
shown conclusively the need OF expert
enced nurses to look after the men. Nor
than half of those in the hospital ar
suffering with typhoid, many of then
having taken the disease since they wer
admitted TO the institution.
Officers Are Indignant.
There are now 31S sick soldiers on IN
hospital roll Notwithstanding the fac
that over 500 were sent TO Philadelphia
three days ago and an equal number c
convalescents have been sent home o
furloughs.
1T is confidently stated that furthe
revelations of the unsatisfactory santa
~ conditions which exist al the cam
will be made soon. Several of the of
GERS have become very indignant at tn
Encouragement, and they will begin I
make their own experiences public 500
if a change does not take place"