The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-21

Troops on the Pacific Coast.
The precautions taken 10 secure good
sanitary condition on the vessels prior 10
erslbarkatlon ard the sanitary supervision
exercised over the men during tneir long
voyage mus be credited 10 the excellent
coga3 ton IF the troops 81 Manila. The want
Of hospital corps men was the main cause
Of the failure OF chief surgeons 10 esta niisn
their division hospitals promptly, instead
% organization for he.d service, their time
being occupied and ther energies spent IA
en5eavorsag 10 procure the necessary men
~ enlistment Or transfer. After time,
when sickness invade! the camps and ins
division hospitals became filled. operations
for field service had TO give place 10 the
immediate necessity Of caring for the sick.
The division hospitals became expanded, as
Al Siboney and Tampa. into base hospitals,
win Increased Reeds and Increased respoii-
si5ilities.
General Hospitals.
Up TO September 30 eleven general hosp
tals were established and fully manned and
equipped. These had d capacity OF nearly
7gJ beds. AT the same time certain post
hospitals having good accommodations.
Were used Tor the treatment or army cases
generally. without alteration or Their OH
csal status post hospitals.
MY report presents fluctuations c2miled
from monthly reports OF sick and wounded
received from May 10 September. inclusive.
and representing strength present OF
1877 Is. men.
These give full particulars. There were
i.1I5 deaths, of which number Go were &C.
easionea By typhoid fever, 91 by. malarial
fevers and 1853 by diarrhhoea and dysentery.
The death rates for May and June. as and
20. were not In excess OF the army in time
Of peace. In July the rate became some
what higher than that Of the most well
cared for cities. as for the month. or the
equivalent Of an annual rate Of $50 per
1e10 living. In August ii became exees
slve. 4.os. equal TO an annual rate OF 4s. Sc
per Loco. In September the influence OF
measures taken in July TO improve the
health OF the army becomes manifest in
the falling Of the death rate to 2.i5. or the
equivalent OF an annua. rate OF %. 10. The
same progression 10 an acme in August.
with a sudden fall In September, In various
ratios given under the specific titles. ty
ph0id fever, malarial and diarrhoea1 dis
eases. This IS exceedingly gratifying and
must be credited. as stated, to the sani-
tary measures adopted. for our experience
In the civil war demonstrated that IN the
absence OF these measures the high ratio
OF August would have been continued for
many months 10 come. From tables Of
absolute numbers and Of ratios by which
the iucidents of sickness and mortality Of
the regular and volunteer troops may be
contrasted. it will be seen that exposures
OF the regular troops In the Santiago cam
paign gave them from June to September
a higher death rate for the volunteers.
Volunteer Relief Work.
Ny ending principle through the war
has been that relief when needed. should
he promptly accepted without reference TO
the source from which I. came. The re
lief afforded by the national Red Cross So
ciety at siboney was promptly accepted by
the surgeons on the spot. but IL is evident
that IL was entirely inadequate 10 meet the
emergency, The association has had fun
authority 10 send agents and supplies of
various kinds In most liberal manner for
the use of the field hospitals. Other or
ganizations which have also rendered valu-
able services are the National Relief Assoc
citation. having It's headquarters In Phlia-
aelphia. and the Massachusetts, Volunteer
Aid Association. with headquarters in Bos-
ton. Both of these organizations fitted
out hospital ships. which were placed al
my service for the transportation OF our
sick from Porto Rico. and / take pleasure
in testiyying 70 the valuable services rem
dered by the yacht May. OF the National
Relief Commission. and tire hosp!ta! ship
Bay State, of the Massachusetts Voun-
teer Ajd Association.
Medical Corps.
Before concluding my report OF the orer-
atoms Of the medical department during
our short and glorious war with Spain
feel II my duty 20 call special attention to
efficient services rendered by the medical
officers az the army in the various re
sponSIble positions which the eyigencies OF
the service have made it necessary for
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