The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-15
Hospitals Were Also Crowded and the
Attendants Lacked SISiII-An UnROr-
tunate Change of Methods.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 14-GeneraI Breck.
inridge, Dr. Huidekoper and Major Knox
were before the investigating commis-
sion to-day. General Breckinridge's testi-
mony dealt with conditions at Camp Thom-
as of which he was for a time in command.
and he took occasion to say that but for the
change that was made previous to the war
requiring inspector generals in the field to
report to the adjutant general instead of
the inspector general the condition of the
camps now being developed by the commits
sion would have been developed three
months ago. Governor Woodbury. has re-
turned from Vermont and sat with the cons
mission to-day.
DR.. r. 8. Huidekoper. lieutenant colonel OF
volunteers, was the first witness examined
to-day. He said that he had occupied
the position of chief medical officer of ths
First Army Corps at Camp Thomas, Chick
amauga Park, until the 23d of July, when
he had gone to Porto Rico with General
Brooke. Speaking of the supply department,
he said there were large quantities of soma
articles and a superabundance of others at
the beginning of the history Of Camp
Thomas but that this condition of affairs
did not last long. He had Immediately un-
dertaken to regulate acquisitions so as to
equalize them in the various divisions of the
command. AT one time he had to appeal
to General Brooke to get the supplies neces-
sary, the deputy surgeon general insisting
on being guided by the supplies on the ta-
bic, which was not a fair test.
''Do you not know" asked DR. Conner.
that there was a full supply OF medical
stores at the depot at Lytle?'
Il know that many articles were lacks
ing" the doctor replied, and added: 'It as
not true, as has been stated, that there was
full supply" He continued by saying that
he had made constant representations to the
surgeon general of the shortage of supplies.
He had never turned down any requsitiom
from the division hospitals, except on one
occasion, when he knew that the articles
were not on hand. Also he had refused his
sanction to a reauistion for flooring for
hospital tents when General Brooke had
expected to move. He contended that there
had been sufficiency of tentage, saying
that no patients had been compelled to lie
out without covering for any length Of time.
1t was true, however. that there were occa-
sions when the sick men had been kept for
several days at a time under the tent flies.
LACKED NURSES.
''The Second and Third Division hospi-
tails were" he said in reply to a question.
always clean and we'll ordered. Both in-
stitutions were well built, but had suffered
throughout for proper attendants. There
was never sufficient number of hospital
attendants for the men, He had repeat-
edly called attention to the lack of nurses.
and about the 1st of July there was an in
crease of hospital corps men In response
to his representations. but the supply was
never equal to the demand. Reverting to
the question Of tentage, DR.. HuidekOper said
he knew of his own knowledge that the sur
plus tentage at the reserve hospital was
turned over to the division hospitals AMI
that tents had not been held there to the
detriment OF other hospitals. On the other
hand he stated that there were always un-
occupied tents at the reserve hospital
Speaking of the condition of the camp In
general, he said that some of the sinks were
excessively filthy. Some OF them were never
in proper condition.
"Who was responsible for that conditions
asked DR.. Conner.
THE officers of the regiment" responded
Dr. Huidekoper.
did not the commanding general have q
duty to perform in that connection?" the
questioner continued.
The reply to this question was not satis-
factory, and DIR. Conner insisted on know
ing whether anything had ever been done by
the commanding general to secure the pun
ishment of regimental officers who had re-
fused to obey orders for the proper policing
of the camps, but Dr. Hudekoper declared
that he knew of no instance where there was
prosecution of any offense of this kind. Dr.
Huidekoper said he had succeeded In get
ting supplies only by being the first on hand
as the medical depot was run in "A very
parsimonious manner. There was not only
a great scarcity Of important drugs, such
as quinine and opium, but disposition on
the part Of the purveyor not to give out
what there was.
Or. Huidekoper said that, with few un-
important exceptions, the medical supplies
for the Porto Rican expedition had been
ample. At Newport News he had given or
ders that the sick men be eliminated from
the command. but he found that the order
had been evaded and sick men taken aboard.
This was especially true OF the Third Illi-
nois Regiment, whose surgeon, DR.. Huide-
koper said. had persisted from the start In
breaking the spirit. if not the letter. OF the
law. The regiment had left sick at every
town that it had visited. He said that when
the command started to Porto Rico Ger
Brooke had exercised his prerogative to de-
mand the filing Of a requisltion which had
been refused by the deputy surgeon gen.
eral but, in response to question, he said
he did not know why the general had not
exercised this prerogative in securing sup
plies at Chickamauga.
HUIDEKOPER'S MEDICAL RECORD.
Responding TO a request from Ex-Governor
Beaver. DR.. Huidekoper detailed the partic-
ulars OF his education as a physician. giving
also his experience in military service. Re
said he had graduated as physician frela