The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-12
NO ALARM NEED BE FELT.
There Are Only u Few Scattered
Cases OF Typhoid Fever in camp.
Special from a Staff Correspondent.


Camp Alger, Va. July 11.-No alarm
need be felt over the typhoid
fever scare that some thought
less correspondents of metropolitan pa
pers are trying to work up here. There
is no typhoid fever in the camp. and
there have been sporadic cases ever
since the camp was opened, but there
is now and never has been anything
approaching an epidemic. Typhoid is
an intestinal trouble and is commonly
induced by diarrhoea or dysentery.
There has been great number of
cases of these complaints. most of them
mild, but some, a small proportion,
severe. Wherever there has been a
case of typhoid. investigation has
shown previous attack of diarrhoea
or dysentery. This argues, the sur
geons claim. n predispostion to ty-
phoid~in those who have been affected
anG destroys the contention that the
water supply or poor sanitation are di-
rectly responsible for the typhoid. The
water is not the best, but Is not inn
pure, The worst that any one who is
competent to speak on the matter has
said against it is that it Is in danger
of becoming contaminated.
A scientist with only two or three let
ters behind his name could see that.
Driven wells are dangerous under all
circumstances Here the, danger is
heightened by the fact that the water
is secured above bedrock. There is
danger of the water here becoming
contaminated but it has not as yet
suffered any pollution, and no one can
there G CT LOT al
immediate, probability of it becoming
contaminated. If one stops to con-
slider that there is at present and has
been almost from the very first over
10000 men in the camp: that typhoid
fever has existed from the opening of
the camp. and that there are not more
than dozen or fifteen cases all told
at present. an alarm on the score of an
epidemic ought at once to subside
PRECAUTIONS OBSERVED.
Strong precautions have been taken
and extra strong precautions are now
observed to keep the camp in the most
healthful conditions. Lieutenant Col
onel Stewart, United States army, one
of Surgeon General Sternberg's best
men, has been detailed to conduct a
special investigation into the sanitary
condition of the camp and to recon-
mend any changes or improvements he
may deem necessary. In company with
Major Cook, surgeon of the First di-
vision. and Major Parke. surgeon Of
the Third brigade, he is now engaged
in making tour of the camp looking
into its sanitary condition, with special
reference to the water supply. AS
hnv oil
gestions they think will improve the
healthfuness of the camp, and when
they conclude their Investigations a
general report will be made. embody-
ing whatever recommendations they
see fit to make.
Awaiting Major Parkes return from
his seven day leave Of absence is an
offcial notification of his appointment
and confirmation as a brigade surgeon.
This signal honor comes to him as a
pleasant surprise. He learned some
time ago that he had been recommend
ed for the place and later upon visiting
General Sternberg to make formal ap-
plication, was told that he was the
next surgeon to be given a brigade
place, but when he considered that
twenty-seven appointments of this
same rank had been made but
short time previously, and that Cen
eral Gobin's application for Major Hal
berstadt's appointment had been re-
fused on this ground. he had little hope
of securing recognition until a long
time had elapsed, if indeed he would
ever come by it.
A BIG SURPRISE.
To be appointed at this early date
was therefore big surprise to him.
The fact that he Is the first volunteer
regimental surgeon to be promoted
makes the distinction all the more
marked, Major Pake won his place by
meritorious work in the field, and he
can therefore be all the more proud of
1t. He never even made application
for the place until he was virtually
selected for It,
The promotion makes a vacancy in
the reglmental corps of physicians to
be filled by Colonel Coursen. 1t is ex-
pected that Lieutenant Keller, first as
sistant surgeon, will be made surgeon
major, and that Lieutenant Blanchard
will become thereby first assistant sur
geon. In anticipation Of Major Parke's
promOtion, which was foreshadowed in
The Tribune, applications for the va
a nQf In %