Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-08-23
THE YELLOW FEVER
DOWN AT SANTIAGO.
lieutenant Colonel ssan Tells How the
Disease Works aud the Escape Of
the soldiers PROM "a.

army, has just returned ffom Porto Rico
aud Is in the city. Speaking o; his ex'
perienoe, he said
sin Cuba our army met as it, most
formidable enemy one Of the most decid.
ID acute infectious diseases - yellow
fever. The Cuban invasion was charac.
termed by hasty action, a lack Of organ.
izai'on and inadequate preparation on
the part Of the quartermaster's depart.
ment for which the medical branch OF
the army was in no way responsible. In
less than two weeks after our army
landed in Cuba yellow fever made il
appearance.
Sin less than two weeks from that
time nearly 800 fever cases, most Of
them yellow fever. impaired the fight
ing force and seriously taxed the re-
sources Of the medical department. For
tunately FOR the army. the type Of the
disease was mild and the number OF
deaths was small in comparison with
some Of the epidemies In the past. II
was extremely fortunate that Santiago
surrendered at the right time. Our
army would surely have met the fate OF
the Spanish forces, who lost over 90 per
cent Of their men during the last yeal
from sickness.
I'm planning the Porto Rican inva.
sion General Miles made the proper ar.
nngements for preventing repetition
Of this calamity Thus far our troops
in Porto Rico have escaped yellow fever,
but after landing fever came to the front
at an alarming rate. After landing al
Ponce on Aug. s, l found at least 25C
cases OF typhoid fever. In some Of the
cases it was difficult and in others i'm.
possible TO make differential diagnosis
between malarial and typhoid fever
without the aid Of the microscope, a re.
source which unfortunately was not At
hand. Following the order OF Colonel
Greonleaf, chief surgeon OF the army, l
Investigated for two days all Of the
fever cases in the hospital for the pur.
pose Of locating the origin Of typhoid
fever
"a careful study Of all the cases
showed without doubt that 90 pr cent
were genuine typhoid fever cases, and
that the infection in the army was
brought directly from the camps occu.
pied in the United States / am firmly
Of the opinion that IL tho American
army now in Porto Rico remains there
much longer the loss Of life due to sick.
ness viii b. as great As AZ Santiago.
"The order 70 General Wilson 70 take
up the march toward san Juan made il
necessary 20 evacuate the division hos.
pital All Of the patients were trans.
ferred 10 the Spanish military hospital
in Ponce, which caused the temporary
oyercrowding. The clubhouse OF the
city and a school for girls in charge OF
Sisters Of Charity, were also offered "a
the authorities for hospital use and wert
accepted. want 10 make especial mon.
tion OF the valuable services rendered BY
Miss Chanler Of your city who night and
day with untiring industry, ministercd
90 the sick and wounded soldiers. All OF
the officers m the clubhouse became very
much attached 20 Miss CHAMBER"
"Nostalmia, or homesickness, in q
large measure has added 20 the wretch,
ed condition OF the soldiers, not only In
Cuba, but also In Porto Rico. The post.
Office department has shown serious neg.
lect In forwarding mail You give d
man a letter from home and he feel,
like lighting. know A. an actual
fact that moro than 200 letters wert
sent 10 me while / have been away
but l have only received two from them.
Newspapers were in great demand and
were eagerly bought and read.
THE war has again demonstrated the
great value Of the small caliber bullet
and has shown that it Is a most human,
weapon. Contrary TO expectations but
few surgical operations were necessary
and our attention was directed entirely
TO the proper dressing Of wounds"
Colonel Sem is enthusiastic abou
Porto Rico, and declares tho island G,
b. worth It's weight In gold Its 1
beautiful country, a combination o.
Italy and Switzerland, and It's resource
are incalculable.
"WhAt is now needed in Porto Ric,
Is American civilization, with its littl,
red schoOlnouse. IL will take a
least 80 years to bring the natives o
Porto Rico and Cuba TO such a state o
civilization that they can govern them
selves. think the best plan for th,
United States would DO 90 establish
colonial government In the new colonie
somewhat upon the plan by which En-
gland governs India. am Of the opin
ION that even in Cuba military occupa
ton on the part Of the United State
will be necessary for long time
Eighty soldiers Drowned.
London, Aug IA dispatch from
! Budapest says while regiment wa
crossing on n pontoon bridge over IN
river MAros, near Hoad, the bridge col
lapsed. Three hundred men wero i'm
q ,nersed and IL IA bolleved sO drowned