The times., 1898-08-01
TREATMENT FOR SOLDIERS
Drills of the Hospital Company
at Camp Alger.
FIRST AID TO THE W0UNDI D
Conduct of a Field Hospital-Duties
of the Surgeons and the Nurses
Distinguishing stripes OF the
Service - Stories of Gifts That
Came to the Sick Men.


very interesting institution.
There are two departments to the field
hospital, the hospital proper and the hos
pital company. AT the head of both
organizations is an officer with the rank
of major. The hospital company COM
prises those members of the hospital
corps who are not employed a nursing
the sick Besides doing manual labor,
such as putting up and taking down
tents, cooking for the hospital company
and hospital proper, carrying water in
mule carts. digging sinks, attending to
I'D every morning all rubbish that may
cause disease and burning it, they ARE
required to spend four hours every day,
weather permitting, in litter drill, which
includes marching, first aid, lifting and
carrying the wounded.
While litter drill is laborious exercise
on warm day, it is nevertheless a very
beautiful one. In the afternoon, gener-
ally, several members of the hospital
company will go into the field and play
wounded. Soon after, four men to one
litter, known as Nos. !, 2. and 4, will
come running double time) 10 the sup
posed wounded. If the litter is carried
on the right shoulder of No. 3, at the
command ''earry'' he brings 1t vertically
in front of him, holding the lower end six
inches from the ground, the canvas fold
ed at the bottom of the litter TO his left.
At the word litter he drops it horizon
tally, while No. 2 steps two PAGES to the
front, holding the other end of the litter
with his left hand, and Nos. 1 and step
one pace to each side of the litter. At
command open Nos. 3 and face the
litter. AT the word litter Nos 8 and 2
quickly unfasten the straps and open the
litter. At the command ground" Nos. 8
and face the litter. At the word litter
it is quickly lowered to the ground. These
commands are exercised very quickly af-
ter few days training by an expert
drill master.
Next, No. 2 lifts the legs of the wounded
man, No. the hips, No. the shoulders
and head, while No. /, on the opposite
side of the litter, lifts the lumbar region.
bringing the patient on the knees of Nos.
2 and 4, when the litter is pushed under
him by No. 1. Then the patient is easily
place on the litter. When the command
lift is heard either Nos. and or Nos.
2 and 3 get between the ends of the litter.
and at the word litter the patient is
lifted to be carried. At the words "dou-
bic time" all four men get ready to go
gentle run, and at the command
march" not before, double time, or run
ming begins. 1t will be noted that the
preparatory command in litter drill calls
for the name of the action while the
word march or litter is the command
of execution On the battlefield all men,
bers of the hospital corps are always pro-
vided with bandages, splintings, and
quick-fastening cords to stop bleeding. So
much about the hospital company in first
aid and litter drill
In order that soldiers may distinguish
members of one branch from those %.
another, and not for mere show, all hav,
to wear stripes of certain colors on The
outside seam of their trousers. The stripe:
of the Red Cross, or hospital corps. are o.
a bright green, that of the infan.ry white
of the cavalry yellow. and of the artiller,
bright red. Besides the green stripes al
members Of the hospital corps must weal
a band of white flannel four inches wild,
around the left arm just above the elbow
Conspicuous in the center of this, sewet
on, is a Swiss cross of red flannel. Out
side of this and the nickel Swiss cross il
the center of the hat, the uniform is prac.
tically the same as that of the infantry
cavalry and artillery, namely a darl
blue sack coat with brass buttons, eacf
bearing a figure of the American eagle
light blue trousers brown canvas leggings
strong but easy walking shoes. blue shirts
and a soft hat of dark gray felt.
While the head of hospital company
is a captain. the head of a military field
hospital is known as the chief surgeon
and ranks as major. Under him, one fol-
each ward. are the physicians and sur
geons and the steward of the dispensary.