The Portland daily press., 1898-11-21
SICKNESS IN THE ARMY.
Gen. Sternberg's Explanation Of the
Causes.
CONDITION OF CAMPS
THE GREAT TROUBLE.
Not the Site of Camps But Manner of oc-
cupasion at Fault-vices of Soldiers
Responsible for Much sickness-Keport


Responsible for Much Sickness-Keport
of Surgeon General of the Army
Washington, November 20. Surgeon
General George H. Sternberg has made
his report to the secretary of war. 1t re-
lates mainly to the work of the medical
corps during the war. The following are
the more Important features OF the report.
The number Of medical officers, 192,
allowed by law, to the army, is made
quate in time Of peace. The insufficisncy
in time of war was met by the assign
men of over $50 contract surgeons. Many
of the staff surgeons from civil life
showed great aptitude for the service
and speedily became of value. as admin
istratiye and sanitary officers.
Over l7OO female nurses have been en-
ployed, at first at the general hospitals
and later at the field division hospitals.
Immediately upon the declaration OF
war, April 81, steps were taken tozobtain
medical supplies for the new volunteer
army. The manufacture was expedited
with the utmost despatch. On May 8,
I telegraphed the governors of the several
states for authority to use the medical
equipment of the national guard in the
service in the state until our army medi-
cal supplies were ready for ISSUE
! Most OF the governors who hadifield
equipment responded promptly and SAT-
isfaotory, but unfortunately many of the
state medical departments had no such
equipments.
In my opinion the reduction of the age
limit from 81 to lS years, and the haste
with whica the volunteer regiments were
organized and mustered into service, were
for much of the sickness
which was reported in the early days of
their camp life. All military experience
show that young men under 81 years
break down readily under the strain of
war service.
Soon after the newly raised levies were
aggregated in large camps, sickness began
to increase progressively from causes
that were SO general in their operation
that scarcely regiment escaped from
their harmful inf uence. These causes
may largely be referred to ignorancs on
the part of officers of the principles of
carap sanitation and of their duties and
Responsibilities as regards the welfare
of the enlisted men in their commands.
review Of the whole situation shows
that it was not the site, but the manner
of its occupation which must be held re-
sponsibls for the general spread of disease
among the troops. April 25, 1898. is
sued circular No. /, 1,impressing upon med
ical officers their responsibility in sani-
tary matters. But the density OF the mil
itary population on the ares OF these con-
tracted camps prevented the RESPONSE
bility of good sanitary condition. Camps
Of this character may be occupied for a
week or two at q time without serious
results, but their continued oocuption
will inevitably result in the breaking
down of the command by diarrohea and
typhoid fever.
Practically nothing was done to make
the men comfortable or to remedy the in.
sanitary conditions until these were
Brought to the attention of the secretary
of war by inspectors sent out from the
war department. Then the camps held
for so leng were abandoned. but not
before the manifestations OF typhoid IN
lection were rife in thsza.
One prominent cause of the increase
Of sickness in the early camps has been
commented upon by only a few OF our
medical officers These cite the preva-
Ience of drunkenness and venereal disease.
| They hold that if the system of the
men had not been weakened BY dissa-
patton they would not have succumbed
so readily to the other influences which
affected them.
1t was typhoid fever which broke down
the strength of the commands, generally,
| the outbreak becoming distinctly mani
fest in July. 1t appears from the general
reports already filed that the preva-
lence of the disease WAS proportioned
to the insanitary camp conditions which
have been referred to. The probability
of Its communication to soldiers through
the agency of flies was pointed out as a
| reason for insisting on sanitary police
of the striotest character. 1t is well
AAOWu To bu0 IuoulCttl pIOlooSAoA oAA'o
this fever is propagated by a contaminated
| water supply. 10 prevent transmits
sion by the water supply recommended
tho use of boiled and filtered water when
a pure spring supply could not be OBJ
| sained. The consolidation of ths medi-
cal force by divisions, implying as it did,
the breaking up of the regim entail hos
pitfalls, met with u strong opposition
from regimental medical officers.
| THE FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
| Long before this corps embarked TO,
Cuba, its field hospitals were in condi
ton for efficient service. Subsequent
events, however, rendered yalueless those
preparations OF the medical department
When the command embarked on the
transport vessels, the ambulance trains
| FEII|lH Bells
( raz.