New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
SURGEON GIFFIN'S TESTIMONY

81 RNtoN 'TlfFlN
Washington oct s.-The War Investigation Com
mission began its proceedings to-day with Major
r Emmett Giffn the stand. He was chief surgeon
A. Camp Thomas. and told Of his visit TO the Sec
ond Division hospital In July last when IT was, he
said overcrowded In each tent there were eight or
nine men when there should have been only from
four 70 six There was suff1ciency Of physicians
and Major Giffn was sure they were competent men,
He thought the crowding OF the hospital was from
lack Of sufficient tentage-a fault due TO the sur
seon IN charge Or Giffn made his visit 10 the
division hospital sec a man OF his brlsade VINO
had been shot in the leg He found him IN A tenn
with typhoId fever cases. and consequently had
him removed
ny Gisn advocated regimenta rather than d.
vision hospitals He said there would he the ad-
vantage OF classification in the larger hospitals II
the classification was made which was not zone as
rule as the were brigaded there The division
hospital surgeons competent in their proieS-
sion some Of them being the best IN the United
States hut they were not men Of executive ability
None NJ them were addicted TO drink. He thought
bospitsl surgeon should compel the filing OF his
prescriptions and look after such details and that
as much depended his ability in this respect as
on his professional skill He considered the water
supply good
The sinks were poorly located They were too
near the kitchens and were too shallow. Many OF
them were only seventy-fve feet from the com
pany kitchens and were open when ne arrived
He
directions for daily disnfection and covering by
,hIs time however the regiments were all infected
ss he thought by the flies going from the sinks to
the mess tables.
THE CAMP SITE HEALTHFUL.
Dr. CHM was satisfied that the typhoid had
been brought in by the troops. the first case COM
ing through a Mississippi regiment The location
was healthful as he had made an lnvesusa-
ton snd found that before the arrival of the troops
neighborhood in nine years. There had been about
he n had charge 1s Of the consruo of
sternberg Hospital. on August l. and af ter tns
here He said the tents Of this hospital were "a by
il foored and supplied with four beds each dnsIe
we're one hundred tents and a number or WOODEN
Niildings Five hundred and thrty-three was the
largest number Of men IN me hos h9spa al one there up
20 October 6 There had been sixty-seven deaths al
IL INSTITUTION The cases sent bdG 70 f
surgeons and two reeSlats; n as cnrns act
p5 as as was sura The attendants were efficient His
peouisitIoHs We're sent direct 10 the surgeon-Gen-
eral al Washington. often by wire, and there was
never any delay he often being directed to pur,
the men from the North but. as rule they were
He said that when patients began 10 recover they
were put on special det lor "eeh an not
70 allow Of the patients 70 start for home s nq
for them 70 do so He related how Governor Brad
ley. Of Kentucky, came 70 the hospital saying ne
CHM refused at first but afterward consented TO
leave the mater to tie patents IN s and bs
was insane.
NO COMPLAINT AGAINST DEPARTMENT.
DR. Gifn had no complaint Of neglect inef-
nciency 10 make against any Of the bureaus Of the
War Department and ne had heard Of only one
complaint There no matches for twenty
four hours He thought tina, the contract surgeons
should have been examined before they were ap-
b,,. ~ Ot 90 examined.
knowledge. He also expressed the opinion that me
tvphoid fever on spare diet He thought many
ysescents returned 70 ther homes.
orders were given his knowledge for prompt
wien IL broke out but the orders had not been
obeyed He knew OF some cases in which the sinks
ems and ,1 the cases Of the 14th Minnesota and
9th Pennsylvania regiments the SINKS were cfo~o
mile of open field back OF them He thoug seI
Sss ha as O We're at camp Thomas
had been honored promptly - sot every' ,,r8ed
down on nothing" he said
DR.. Gf1n was excused al l. O'CLOCK
IN THE JACKSONVILLE CAMP.
Captain James c. Baldridge commissary Of sub
sisence for the First Brigade Of the Second Divls-
ION OF the Seventh Army Corps. now at Camp Cuba
Libre. Jacksonville. was before the Commission IN
The afternoon He reached the camp on August
and on an immediate inspection OF the Kitchens
found some Of them not well managed. as all the
Army cooks were not experts. He believed that lot
army IN camp green coffee was preteraoe -
the roasted as II was stronger and fresher. The
meat he considered good. II was received on time
except In one instance. On complaint by the "a
New-Jersey Regiment he investigated meat when
had been rejected by II. Some OF this meat was
eaten by the brigade officers. and found 10 be
wholesome The next day the same regiment re-
tected consignment Of corned beef but this also
he found 10 be eatabe. The men were literally
supplied with food. and the location OF the camp
wss good SUI there had been an increase OF dis
ease which ne ATTRIBUTED the climate and 10
The Assem- bling Of large body OF men He also also
had an influence in producing disease. -
qPs BaTdse said 6 see[Sd e NewgeTseS kes
ment He attributed their troubles paruaiy 10 the
tset that they had an nTTperemGm9d had also
made contract with outside 9aker, Wh hg gave
zach 9H hs fn ration would have given
them more than twice as much Cap.dt AN Ssu,uk
isje reeinaent eYcepf that they were without ex-
perience He nstanced the fact tnat When me regl-
en Of 1So eompanes the main body took all the
rstions leaving nothing 10 eet LOT tnoSe 'ei' '7"u
CARE OF SICK AT CAMP w1KoFF
sURGEoN-oENERAL sTERspERG ORDERED THAT
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BID DONE FOR THEM
Washington. Oct. s-surgeon- General sternbers
to-day sent to the War Department investigating
Commission the correspondence regarding inc IS
Enlistment Of Camp Wikon ~ Was ho0oi'p'
by The following letter
General G. NJ Dodge. President Of the Board 10 IN
vestieate the War Department. ,., ..,,o.
Sir have the honor 70 transmit hereW Ons of me
OF correspondence relating TO the operations 81 re
medical department at camp Wikon Long the foi
o15epe ete5s 6f and to copies Of tee
grams dated August Il
Surgeon Generals once.
Washington. August .. 1873
II. EOrWOOQ