The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-09
lNQO|RIlG INTO HEALTH.
SURGEON GENERAL S1ERNDEA
BEFORE WAR COMMISSION.
Urged to Make Purchases Before
the Outbreak Of Hostilfties Was
to Waft-Typhoid Inevitable.

WASHINGTON, Dec. S.--The condition
OF the medical service Of the army WAS
taken up today By the war investigation
commission and Surgeon General Stern
berg was rightly questioned about his adj
ministratien. The medical department, he
aid, was equipped only tor an army Of
E,.0o0 when the war broke out and from
year to year the estimates he had sub
mftted had been materially reduced by
congress In a policy OF economy. As soon
as there was a prospect OF war he had
begun preparations though not making any
expense. When he suggested to Aiger the
propriety Of making purchases for his
service. the policy was TO wait" He
said at one time there were as many as
go contract surgeons employed. He con-
ceded that there was mistake not TO
have had appointed more contract sur
geons from those who had the experience
in the civil war. But he was ignorant at
the outset OF the permanency Of the corps.
Regimentai surgeons he said. were good.
bad and Indifferent but he recollected no
instance OF dismissal for in-v-npetency.
Threshing over controversy between regi-
mental and division hospitals. he credited
the establishment Of the latter to their
success in two years experience In the
civil war. AT the outset. the maximum
capacity OF the division hospitals was 80
beds, but this capacity was quickly found
said. has ample evidence that typhoid
cases during the war were largely mistak-
en- for maiarial fever until the cases reach
ed the division hospital, ana ma.arial had
also been diagnosed as typhoid
Gen Sternberg's recollection was that
prior to the inspection tour OF the camps
by Secretary Alger. Quartermaster General
Ludington and himself, the information In
his hands of the unsanitars condition of
wa al He sai
with time 1t was practicaoie to secure
fairy large number of nurses. but their
training took time, which he admitted, in
war time might be at the expense OF the
patients. He acknowledged the services
of volunteers and associations and said
the trained female nurses were satisfact-
DRY, though he had received some six re-
ports to the contrary. The witness admit
ted the deficiency In medical supplies at
times. He considered. however, that there
had been very little lack OF medical sup
plies during the war; the great difficulty
being that surgeons frequently preferred
other than the field supplies and an I'M
anticipated typhoid fever outbreak had
also considerably taxed the field resources.
Asked II 1t had been officially reported
to him that there were surgeons at Mon
tauk unfit for duty because Of bad hab-
its, he said there had been one who drank.
who came from Fortress Monroe, and Is
now on duty at Jefferson barracks.
Coming to the history OF the Santiago
movement Gen Sternberg explained that
there had been an abundance of medical
officers and supplies sent TO Santiago and
that the trouble, so far as he could judge,
arose ia their landing and distribution. He
said enphaticaIly that he could do no more
In his office than send supplies where he
thought they were needed and respond
promptly to acquisitions. All this. he de-
clared most positively. had been done.
Gen. Beaver-Were you al any time ham,
pered in the discharge of the duties Of your
office by any of your superiors In the de-
partmeuty
Gen. sternberg hesitated considerably
and said:
mo, certainly not to any appreciate ex-
tent
There was pause and Gen. Sternbers
FASTENED to add:
''You viii understand that one man can
not do anything at once. and there were oc-
casional delays In getting the ear OF the
secretary. but nothing beyond this
Then said Gen. Beaver. 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-
eddy
AS 10 the general condition of troops in
mobilization camps. he said the trouble
phrases. neglect OF sanitary measures"
and letting the troops remain too long in
one camp
'You have to do one or two things said
be. Yen must maintain your permanent
camp under the sanitary conditions of civil
lied life, or yen must follow the Indian
method and shift your camp when YOU
foul your ground. | can make rules which
II followed. Will insure reasonable immu-
nifty from typhold, but cannot insure their
being Followed ~
As to a new ration for the troops, Gen.
Sternherg said ne had made no specific rec
concentrations yet bat had a competent
officer now investigating the methods OF
the British army tn Jamaica and hopsd
soon 10 be able 10 make report.
Touching the subject Of female nurses.
Gen. Stern6erg said. seriously but some
what sadly. that they were expensive lux
uries" He said the war department was
getting reuuts5tions now for bureaus rock
ing chairs and other things which were I'M
under the .nafe r1ursa rapju,a