The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-17
Government Now In Shape TO Care
For Sick Soldiers.
RELIEF BY RED CROSS
SoCIETY'S WORK HAS BEEN OF
GREAT ASSISTANCE.
Surgeon General of the Army Ex-
plains Why Further Aid From Re
lief Committees Is Unnecessary
Hospital Officials Now Able to
Care For Those In Their Charge.

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE following
letter from the surgeon general of the
army was written in reply TO one sent
to the president by Mr.. A E. Orr, vice
chairman of the Red Cross relief COM
mittee:
Il have received the copy of your
letter to the president. In answer to
your question as to why the interven-
ton of the Red Cross relief committee
should be longer needed, and why the
government does not see 20 1t that ITS
own sick are provided for would say;
1.-The emergencies of the war made
the assistance of the relief associations
most valuable, Notwithstanding the
fact that it is the intention of the gov
eminent to provide literally for the
care of sick soldiers. But, as you
know, with ample means and good in
tentions, supplies cannot always be
provided at the proper place and time
to meet an emergency. Moreover. at
the outset of the war the arrangements
made for providing light diet for the
sick, which had proved satisfactory in
time of peace, under the careful man
agement of experienced medical Off
GERS, were inadequate under the con-
ditions which prevailed in our camps
of instruction and among troops en-
gagged in active operations. For this
reason the presence of Red Cross
agents, with their abundant supplies OF
delicacies for the sick, has been of in
estimable value. But provision was
made by a general order, published
Aug. 10 &c. o. 116), by which surgeons
in charge of hospitals, general, division
or regimental. are enabled to draw so
cents per day for each sick enlisted
man of the army in lieu of his regular
ration. Up TO that time the commuta-
ton value of ration WAS only 80 cents.
1.-THE medical department does not
supply food for the sick in hospital.
This is obtained from the commissary
department, OF by purchase wherever
it can be procured. l enclose herewith
a list, showing the articles which can
be purchased from the commissary,
which list. as you will see, includes
canned soups, tapioca. crackers. jeliies,
tea, butter etc. Milk, chickens and
eggs, fresh vegetables, etc, are pur-
chased wherever they can be obtained.
The medical department furnishes a
few articles under the head of Hos
pital Stores including condensed milk,
sugar and tea, but no other food sup
plies are furnished by the medical de-
partment or can be properly paid for
from the medical and hospital appro-
priation.
~ A0uESt. II the tDlllllllSSdIy
ment rails TO provide these supplies,
and they cannot be purchased in the
vicinity of camp or hospital, the diff
ficulty of providing proper food for the
sick will be very great. and under such
circumstances the supplies of relief'as-
sociations have been most welcome
But the amount now allowed by the
government is ample to provide every
thing necessary IN the way of suitable
diet for the sick. and when there is
any failures TO provide this, it is fail
Ure in administration by those imme-
diately in charge. and not a failure of
the government to provide the neces-
sary means.
You will no doubt agree with me
that go cents a day for the raw ma
terial from which to prepare a proper
diet for the sick is a most liberal pro-
vision. The experience OF medical of
ficers shows that it is not only ample,
but excessive. and that for sick men,
living for the most part upon milk,
weak soup and farinacecus food. this
amount is much in excess of any rea-
sonable requirement.
Under these circumstances. I think
that those patriotic and liberal citi-
zens who have contributed so freely of
their money and time to aid in the care
of our sick soldiers may now leave the
matter in the hands of the govern
ment without any apprehension as TO
the result