New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-19
TILE TESTIMONY N DETAIL.

Jacksonville Fla Oct ls-Coonel Louis NJ Maus.
/ chio- surgeon Of the Seventh Army Corps. the
first witness He Is a Regular Army surgeon and
has occupied his present post pra'tcally throughout
the history Of the camp. lie said there was only
small field hospital when ne arrived, In Me-.
and there we're few sick men Sickness deve opei
slowly and there was little Of Il until July. When
the order came for the establishment OF division
HOSPITALS there delay in getting sup
plies such al tents. lie made his acquisitions on
TAMPA but finding that.aH efforts there A.
rected 20 getting the expedition of he made mis-
requis!tions on Washington direct. After this they
were promptly filed. There was no unusual suf-
ferng among the sick. SIN, they DID not have the
luxuries at the beginning OF the war that there
we're In the latter days OF It, nor" he added do
think that the history Of the world has seen
a parallel 20 present care OF the sick" Taking
up tn. present condition OF the hospitals. ne said
there were three hundred trained femal.
now at work here. The employment OF these
nurses had proved entirely satisfactory.
Replying 10 a question. Or. Msus said that after
the first few DAYS there had been no refusal Of
supplies and that all acquisitions had been filed
with exceptional pIomptitude. He had never
seen such utter disregard Of expense In caring for
sick soldiers. AS a matter Of fact the troops had
a greater allowance CO rations than they could use
or dispose Of in any way. The Red Cross had
given much that it was often unnecessary 10 ask
the Government; for supplies. There had been no
restrictions In the matter Of htting the camps.
CAUSES OF TYPHOID FEVER
Dr. Maus thought that typhoid had been intro
duced 10 the camp ny Mississippi and Virginia
troops Shallow wells and surface drainage had
done much 10 increase the scOurge. but he was
confident tina; the gular water supply Of the city
had not been in any sense responsible for II. He
thought the flies had done much 10 disseminate
fever. From the beginning strict attention had
been given TO the sinks He had never in his life
seen such attention given 70 sanitation In camp
n snfta Of Il hrea nd
had become the principal sickness here.
Dr. MaUs said he had found Il difficult 70 prevail
on surgeons IN the volunteer service to learn the
administrative duties Of their places As matter
OF fact. these duties were extremely onerous and
FOR this reason the volunteer physicians were not
SO efficient az they should have been Often. also
I'm the early history Of the some OF the voun-
teer rcgimental surgeons had been found negligent
n the matter Of inspection. but later on sanitary
became the principal duty % every body abou, tho
camp Much trouble had been experienced IN keep
Ing The public from the hospitals In many cases
they had surrepiltiously carried food the sick
Dr Maus also dwelt upon tho newspaper reports
Of the suffering in the camp. saying they had gen.
orally grown out Of exaggerated statements from
the men themselves.
In the history of the camp there had been 2s&
deaths out OF $1,000 men. and about So per cent
OF the deaths had been from fever. He thought the
fever was now decreasing He mentioned one In
stance in which serious sickness had followed the
use Of tainted meat, ana shld ne had healn OF
few other Instances IN which poor meat had been
issued san. these and no more
frequent than should be expected
NOT DEPENDENT on OUTSIDE AID.
rr Conner questioned DR.. Maus about the ac-
centance ~ outside aid, and quoted a report from
Colonel Guild. Inspector-General. saying that but
for tho action OF the Red Cross the sick would
have been without essential supplies for two
months
That statement" said DR.. Maus. is utterly
false The Government would have supplied them
Dr. Maus also denied the truth of statement
made 10y the Governor Il Iowa that there was only
snid' however. that the nurses sent BY the Gov
ernor OF Iowa had been accepted not because the
Government was negligent. but because they could
Conner that the Government should take exclusive
care Of its sick and depend on outside contribu-
lions Re said also In reply 10 Dr. Conner that the
dissemination Of disease by flies was still theory
bu, he thought II probable one.
+ Or Mus was Questioned IN regard 20 the camp
at Miami. He said he had investigated II and
which analysis had shown TO be impure He also
+ thought Tampa unSuited 20 a large army camp In
he said tha; General Lee had given the most careful
I attention 10 The hospitals that ne made frequent
visits 20 the sick men. and did much TO cheer
Speaking Of complaints from the "a New,J sss
careful attention 10 their administrative duties and
as a consequence they became stsmpeded In the
bcsn renoried SIX whereas he had found m
vestiga ion that there were only thirteen SICK IN,
criticisins The administration Of the camp than 10
. looking after the wants Of their men when IL was
heir duty 20 do this end nor the duty OF any o'he
4 letter was read from Mrs Gordon. wife OF
/ pitll Al Mani in which she made serious chargct
/ among others. one ~ the effect that hosp''ai
I fever rafieni'n bed burning him somewhat ana
another that NE. were often f9uns crarn 'p ~.