Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-08-23
THE YELLOW FEVER
 DOWN AT SANTIAGO.
Lieutenant Colonel senn Tolls How tho Disease Works and the Escape of
 the Soldiers From It.


 army, has just returned from Porto Rico and is in the city. Speaking of his ex. perience, he said:
 "In Cuba our army met as it's most formidable enemy one of the most decid- ed acute infectious diseases = yellow fever. The Cuban invasion was charac- terized by hasty action, lack of organ ization 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 cur army landed i'll Cuba yellow fever made it's appearance.
 s'in less tban two weeks from that time nearly 500 fever cases, most of them yellow fever. impaired the fight ing force and seriously taxed tho 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 i'll comparison with some of the epidemies ill the past. It 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 year from sickness.
 ''ln planning the Porto Rican inva- cir engagements for preventing a 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 at Ponce on Aug. 8, found at least 250 cases of typhoid fever. In some of the cases it was difficult and in others im- 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 Greenleaf, chief surgeon of the army, I 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 per cent were genuine typhoid fever cases, and that the infection ill the army was brought directly from the camps occu- pied in the United States. I am firmly of the opinion that if the American army now in Porto Rico remains there much longer the loss of life due to sick ness will be as great as at Santiago.
 1.-The order to General Wilson to take up the march toward San Juan made it necessary to eyacuate the division hos pital. All of the patients were trans ferred to the Spanish military hospital in Ponce, which caused the temporary overcrowding. The clubhouse of the city and a school for girls iu charge of Sisters of Charity, were also ,ii red to the authorities for hospital use and were accepted. l want to make especial men, tion of the valuable services rendered by Miss Ohanler of your city who night and day with untiring industry, ministered to the sick and wounded soldiers All of the officers in the clubhouse became very much attached to Miss Chanler. !"
 "Nostalmia, or homesickness, in a large measure, has added to 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 man letter from home and he feels like fighting. I know as an actual fact that more than 200 letters were sent to me while I have been away but 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 most humane weapon. Contrary to expectations but few surgical operations were necessary, and our attention was directed entirely to the proper dressing of wounds. ?
 Colonel Senn is enthusiastic about Porto Rico, and declares the island to be worth Its weight Ill gold. Its beautiful country, a combination of Italy and Switzerland, and its resources are incalculable.
 s'What is now needed ill Porto Rico is American civilization, with its little red schoolhouse. It will take at least 50 years to bring the natives of Porto Rico and Cuba to such q state of civilization that they can govern them- selves. think the best plan for the United States would be to establish a colonial government i'll the new colonies somewhat upon the plan by which En. gland governs India. am of the opin- ion that even i'll Cuba military occupa- tion on the part of the United States will be necessary for long time. "
 Captain sigsbee Promoted.
 Washington, Aug. 2s-The president has promoted Captain Charles D. Sigs- z.