The record-union., 1898-12-09
Conduct of the Medical Service of
the Army Taken Up.
Surgeon General Sternherg RlgidIy Ques-
toned by the Commission.
The Medical Department Hampercd
at the Beginning Of the War by
the Action of Congress From
Year to Year Reducing Esti-
mates He Had Submitted, in q
Policy of Economy in Appro-
priations.

priati0ns.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The con-
duct of the medical service of the army
was taken up to-day by the War In
vestigation Commission, and Surgeon
General Sternberg was, rigidly queS-
toned about his administration
The medical department, he said,
was equipped only for an army of 3D.
OOO men when the war broke out, and
from year to year the estimates he
had submitted had been materially re-
duced by Congress in a policy of
economy of appropriation. AS soon as
there was a prospect of war he had
begun preparations, though not MAX
ing any expense. He had models Of
chests made, he said, and equipment
developed, but when he suggested to
Secretary Alger the propriety of MAX
ing purchases for his service the policy
was to wait
He said at one time there were as
many as $50 contract surgeons en-
ployed. The appointees were mostly
from 80 to 40 years old, with hospital
or active professional experience, but
When permanent camps were estab-
llshed in this country he did not know
they We're to be permanent. He con-
ceded it was a mistake not to have
appointed more contract surgeons from
those who had experience in the Civil
War, for their experience would have
been valuable. but he was ignorant
at the outset of the permanency of the
camps The regimental surgeons, he
said, were good bad and Indifferent,
but he recollected no instance Of dis
missal for incompetence.
Threshing over the controversy be-
tween regimental and division hospi-
tails, he credited the establishment of
the latter to their success in two years
experience of the Civil War. At the
outset the maximum capacity, of the
division hospital was 250 beds. but
this capacity was quickly found far
Inadequate
He. could not recollect whether the
chief surgeon at Camp. Thomas had
reported that the sanitation was bad.
TIT department now, he said, has
ample evidence that typhoid cases dur
ing the war We're largely mistaken for
malaria1 fever until the cases reached
the division hospital, and that malaria
also had been diagnosed as typhoid
General Sternberg's recollection was
that prior to the inspection tour of the
camps by Secretary Alger, Quarter
master General Ludington and him
self, the information in his hands of
unsanitary conditions of Camp Thomas
was unofficial. He acknowledged the
services of volunteer aid associations,
and said the trained female nurses
were satisfactory, though he had re-
ceived some reports to the contrary.
He admitted a real deficiency in med
ical supplies at times. He contended,
however, that there had been very lit
tie lack Of medical supplies during the
war, the great difficulty being that
surgeons frequently preferred other
than the field supplies" and an un-
anticipated typhoid fever outbreak had
also considerably taxed the field re-
sources.
Coming to the history of the Santi-
ago movement, General Sternberg ex-
planned that there had been an abun-
dance of medical officers and supplies
sent to Santiago, and that the trouble,
so far, as he could judge, arose in
their landing and distribution.
General Beaver-Were you at any
time hampered in the discharge OF
the duties of your office by your su-
periors in the department?
General Sternberg hesitated consid-
erably, and said: mo; certainly not to
any appreciable extent
There was a pause, and General
Sternberg hastened to add: You Will
understand that one man cannot do
everything at once, and there were oc-
casional delays in getting the car of
the Secretary, but nothing beyond
this
.Then," said General Beaver, 1--WE are
to understand you had at all times the
hearty support and good will of those
over you in forwarding the work of
your Department."
Yes" was the reply; ''most undoubt-
edly."
AS to the general condition of troops
in mobilization camps, he said the
trouble could nearly all be summed in
the two phrases: Neglect of sanitary
measures" and letting the troops re-
main too long in one camp"
Touching the subject of female
nurses, General Sternberg said, seri-
ously but sadly, that they were ex-
pensive luxuries.''
He said the War Department was
getting acquisitions now for bureaus,
rockingchairs and other things which
were unknown under the male nurse
regime.