The record-union., 1898-10-03

cases of pronounced typhoid brought
which had been in the camp or any
other hospital. Some of these men
after the disease had appeared had
been on the move, by rail and other
wise, and thus had distributed a trail
OF germs over many miles, to be
washed by the first rains into neigh
boring streams.
The News reaches the conclusion
that there was fault among the Off
GERS in command, and among the men
themselves, and that it was due to the
sudden gathering of a large volunteer
army, to inefficient previous instruction
of volunteer officers in sanitary science,
and to neglect by many Of them to
enforce sanitary regulations, and large
ly also to refusal of the men to regard
the sanitary instructions given
The facts prove that to permit a
single case of walking typhoid" TO
remain out of hospital may, and prob
thousand, other cases; that failure to
properly destroy the germs from
single patient in hospital may and
probably does lead to the prostration
with the fever of scores of others who
else would have remained exempt; that
the refusal of a single company, or
part of a company of men, to strictly
obey the instructions given regarding
food, use Of water, and instant report
of diarrheal trouble, may and does
sow the seeds of disease for hundreds
of their comrades.
Nor is it by any means certain that
the nurses with the army have been
always qualified to handle typhoid
cases; both they and the men have
been in civil life taught to despise
red tape" when red tape in army life
means the assurance of health. the
highest state of bodily we'll being, and
the strongest safeguard against dis
ease assaults.
But these facts and assumptions do
not, of necessity, reflect upon the War
Department. 1t remains to be shown
that it was negligent in providing the
regulations necessary; that the medical
direction needful was not given; that
the supplies essential were not pro-
vided; that there was inefficiency or
neglect in the sources of authority and
precaution.
These things we do not believe can
be shown, because 1t is inconceivable
that the Medical and Surgical Bureau,
for instance, long experienced, thor
oughly equipped with even trained men
in the service would fail to promulgate
the necessary regulations and impress
upon the officers of the volunteer army
the great Importance of observing them;
or that it would neglect the slightest
thing necessary to insure the health
Of the volunteer soldier. There could
be no motive for refusal, no reason for
failure, no excuse for neglect on the
part Of that department of army gov
eminent.
The fact rather is, in the light OF
present revelations, that to the neg
lect of simple sanitary precautions by
the men themselves, and ignorance or
neglect of new-fledged officers, or both
to enforce regulations, was primarily
due the typhoid affiiction in the army
and that it is not chargeable to camp
sites. since all camps have been more
or less afflicted; nor yet to the Med
ical Department chiefs of the army,
since the examination of their en-
phatic instructions and schedules of
regulations show that such orders and
information were ample; and that in no
camp if there is excepted the hasty
one improvised at first on landing OF
the troops at Santiago, has there been
any justif1able complaint Of lack OF
medical supplies in variety or quantity