The sun., 1898-10-14
rHP a1Crxrss ar CAMP rHO1rAs.
Col. HoGs Testimony Before the Invests
eating Commission.

Col. Hon's Testimony Before the Investi.
eating Commission.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 13.-Col. ]. q. Hon
chief surgeon Of the Third Army Corps, ap-
peared this morning before the War Investi-
Ratine Commission and related conditions in
the medical department at Camp Thomas,
ChickamauRa Park. Before entering the vol
unteer service he was surgeon in the regular
army. with the rank OF Major. He Joined the
Third Army Corps In May. and remained with
II after It went to Admission. Ala He II now
under orders to proceed to Porto Rioo.
Col Hon said that the camps at ChiokamAuRa
were IN as GOOD sanitary condition 40 the
peculiar circumstances permitted. The Third
CorDs was camped on q soil Of clay and sand,
moro clay than sand. Under this was . solid
rock. and he declared that owing TO this con-
ditlon IL could never be said that proper sinks
were dug, because it was impossible until
later when they blasted the rock. He did
everything possible for benefitinG the sani-
tary condition IN the Third Corps He rode
the lines every day and posted the officers
who were required TO give instruction as TO
camp sanitation. Orders were given to have
sinks burned out three times day. but men
did not obey all regulations The medical de-
partment, he declared. was powerless 10 en-
force its regulations. Orders were given COM
pelling the use Of the sinks. but men disre-
garded them. This caused the.spread Of dis
eases. particularly typhoid fever.
Then the responsibility" inquired Gov.
Beaver. rests with the Individual SOLDIER"
1T does" answered Col. HofI.
Speaking Of the supply Of medicines. he
said that at the time OF the arrival Of the
troops there was not full supply. but later
the supply OF medicines was ample. Col
Hartsock. Deputy Surgeon General of the
army. was the surgeon in charge Of the en-
tire camp. The prevailing diseases we're
diarrh9a. malarial fever and typhoid fever.
The first case Of typhoid In the Third Corps
developed In the First Mississippi Regim ent
about two or three weeks after 1t came to the
camp. Typhoid fever patients were treated in
division HOSPITALS. The ordinary capacity is 200
beds. but sometimes this capacity was doubled
and at one time trebled. In the First Division
there were 800 and in the Second Division 500
BEDS This increase did not mean the crowd
ing Of beds In the regular space Of hospital
but meant q correspondinR increase of tent
age. 1t was true that there were more men
In a tent than should be. The regulations
provide for only. six, but frequently there were
eight He admitted that there was a neces-
s a 6F 5 fT th Of
number OF cots. This was true on one or two
oceasiong. only.
shortage Of medicines. Col. Hoff said dit It was was
several weeks before requisitions were hon.
ored; His corps was several weeks short Of
What speclno medicine was there short
age ofa Quini1e2" asked Gov. Woodbury..
honored 1 got authority from the Surgeon
How soon aid You get this authorityF"'
About the middle Of June"
WAS there any difficulty in obtaining medi-
cine on s' scs9unt Of Improper reauisitions being
"Requlsitions were returned for correction.
but dc, not know that any one suffered"
He said there Was some dif1eplty also in
Weeks. Gov. Woodbury. called the - attention
Of the witness to the testimony Of Col Lee.
EhS " Se said 1en that e0 4 hand @ Al Sss
asked Il. proper requlsitions had been made.
He replied IN the affirmative. He admitted
to lie outdoors on account. of insufficient tent
age; he & SAID he also tried to get flooring 1 for
sa1s toSd s5S dpPyM tell Sst S1
the troops had to lie on the floor.
Was the deprivation and suffering on ac-
as 1a Hnsase na &c ee6 sspPes was asked
a., DO you think you had enough tentage for
There should have been more canvas"
enough canvas and medlcines2'
Referring to the nurses. COL Hofi said: "The
male trained nurse was very rare bird. There
was uluculGy In 8etJlnR Craln6d nurses.
The hospitals were supplied with men from
the medical corps. but they had little train
ing and had to learn" He recalled no case Of
negligence or brutality and could not recol-
leot any complaints which upon investiRa-
tion required discipline.
DR.. Connor referred to a communication
from Dr. Samuel d. Hubbard. surgeon o, the
Ninth New York, who was on duty in the
Second Division. Col. Hoff regarded DIR. Hub
bard as thoroughly reliable and efficient
What do you think of his statement that
the water supply was bad from start to hn-
ish2" asked DIR. Oonnor.
Does he mean quality or Quantity?" asked
HE does not say" DR.. Connor replied.
well, the water was drawn from Chicka-
mauga River. It was only safe to regard it
as infectious; The analysis. however. showed
nothing deleterious"
The only female nurses in either hospital,
he said. were diet cooks At one time In the
last week Of the existence Of the Second Di-
had to stop receiving patients. This condi-
Col. ,Hof concluded his testimony and the
commission then took recess. There was
no witness at the afternoon session. but re-
ports and papers were examined. 1t is in
tended to have Major L. l.. Seaman testify to-
morrow. He has been notified to come on
from New York. and is expected to tell what
he saw in Cuba and Porto Rico. Major Sea-
man was surgeon OF the First Volunteer En-
gineers, and recently returned to the United
States on the OLDHAM.