The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-11-11
Investigators IN CHICAGO.
MORE SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY
BROUGHT OUT by WITNESSES.
BAD FOOD AND BAD WATER.
Kansas City Doctor Severely Reasts Army
surgeons-rells Highly Inter
estlng story.


General Dodge, Colonel Sexton and
Dr. Conner, Of the war investigating
commission, arrived in Chicago Mon
day aud Immediately began the eKami-
nation Of witnesses at the Auditorium
hotel. A large number Of witnesses
we're on the list
Dr. Lewis Schroeder, Of Des Moines,
Ia, was the first witness to testify.
From June 9TH to July 18th DR..
Schooler was stationed at Camp Thomas
as chief surgeon of the Second diyis-
ion, Third corps.
Questioned by DR.. Conner, he said
that during the time he was there the
sanitary condition in tie hospitals
was not very good; that the sinks in
the whole division were bad, owing
principally to the character of the
ground, aud the discipline was rather
lax.
cat the opening, said DIR. Shooter,
there were practically no facilities
for the care Of the sick we we're short
of medicines and had no apparatus by
which the stewards could prepare the
medicines that we had.
"The regimental hospitals, all but
one or two, we're poorly supplied with
medicines as division hospitals. Re-
QUESTIONS we're made for more, but
they were generally disapproved at
the camp headquarters.
Asked to give, in as few words as
possible, his opinion about the gem
eral condition at Camp Thomas dur
ing the time he was stationed there.
DIR. Schroeder said:
Colonel Lee Censured.
I'm the first place, the quartermas-
ter and surgeons could not agree as to
the number of tents that we should
have Colonel Lee contended that
we we're limited to a certain number OF
tents, seventeen, I think it was, in the
beginning. We afterwards prevailed
upon him to give us twenty-one. His
contention was that he could not issue
tents beyond the prescribed number
l think the quartermaster's depart
ment was largely responsible for the
great sickness; the medical department
THAT is, the supply Department. was
also responsible for some things. Their
we lacked facilities to make reports
on-did not even have stationery"
water Not Fit 10 Drink.
In regard to the water supply at tht
camp, DIR. Schroeder stated that he die
not think any of the surgeons in hi
division considered the water fit t,
drink. And, again, there was no
enough teams ut the disposal of tn
: officers to enable them to bring suffi
= cient water.
He gave as his opinion that tn
medical officers were hampered to-
much by officers of higher rank, bu
who had no medical training.
When questioned as to the lack o
s nurses, the doctor said that he though
. that both the nurses as we'll as tn
officers were overworked.
Food was Bad.
Q DIR. Milo B. Ward, of Kansas City
s who was a brigade surgeon at Cam
Thomas from July 18th to Septembe
. 10th, when asked as to the conditio
: of the hospitals, said that there was
u great lack of medicines, only some {
0 the very simplest medicines being o
n hand
d "The food which was furnished tn
. men, - said he, Il would not want {
give to my pet dog"
He said that the food would hay
II been all right had it been properl
Q cooked, but in the shape in which
s was brought to the men, it was enoug
to make anybody sick. The doctC
was then questioned as to the lack
attention shown patients just comm
k down with disease.
} The doctor stated that he knew
d several cases where the patients weI
allowed to lie out on the ground Il
whole day and also during the nigl
y before being taken to the hospital.
10 rANAWTCSc AWEHTT npVFu