Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-26
DR.. TERRY TESTIFIES
Ha Thinks Everything Was All Right
at Camp Alger.
WOULD NOT TASTE TIE WATER
Did Not Care to Take Any Per-
sonal Risk.
NURSES ON THE STAND

NEW YORK, November 26-When the
war investigating commission met today
DR.. NJ r. Terry, surgeon general of the
National Guard OF the state of New York
was asked to tell all he knew about the
various camps he visited. DR.. Terry be-
gan with Camp Alger. The site was a good
one. he said. and everything appeared to
be in good condition. The water was clear
In appearance, but 1t had a bad odor.. 1t
was analysed. but with what result he did
not know.
He found the camp of the 9Th New York
Regiment at Chickamauga in a very in
sanitary condition. The camps of the 9th
and 18th New York were in good condition.
In the course Of his remarks he stated that
the water there appeared to be clear. but
he was not certain as to its salubrity, be-
cause he did not taste It,
Why did you not taste the water, doc
tor?' asked Dr. Connor
Il don't see why | should take any risks"
retorted the witness
Dr. Terry said that the Sternberg Hos
pitai at Camp Thomas. under the charge
OF Surgeon Major Hofr. was in excellent
condition, and the best Of order prevailed.
The sick were given every attention, and
everything that could be done was done
for them.
The Camp at Huntsville.
In speaking of the camp At Huntsville.
Ala. DR.. Terry said that he met Col. Duffy,
and both he and the officers end men of
DIS regiment appeared to be In excellent
condition. Col. Duffy. he said, did all he
could for his men, and there was very lit
tie sickness.
Dr. Terry said he visited the hospitals in
Porto Rico-the government hospitals and
those conducted by Miss CHAMBER and other
charitable women. Except at one govern
ment hospital at Ponce, where there was
one physician to do the work of several
all the hospitals were in good condition and
we'll served. Speaking of the hospital ship
Relief DR.. Terry said he thought DIR. Mich
oias Sem should have been consulted with
reference to operations.
Mrs. l.. w. Quintard. who was at Camp
Wikoff from August II to September 15
In charge of the paid trained nurses at the
general and division hospitals testified as
to such conditions at the hospitals as have
come under her observation.
At first she said there were not sufficient
nurses. but later. when the extent of the
emergency became apparent, there was
plenty OF nurses.
ward. with thirty forty men. There
was very little food for the sick In the early
days. but that. she understood, was the
fault of transportation.
Mrs. Quintard said she considered the
many fscomforts experienced by the pa
tents in the hospitals were due to the
rapidity with which ths sick poured into
the hospitals.
Did the doctors do their whole duty?''
Doctors With Little Experience.
Well. some of the doctors did their best,
but there were many of the contract doc
tors who had not had much previous ex-
oerience."
There were very few supplies of any sort
at first. There were no hypodermic syringes.
no hot water bags and not enough sheets.
Later We had everything that was neces-
sary. Colonel Forwood and DIR. Brown did
all they could to make The work of the
nursing force efficient as possible.
Miss Alice b. Babcock CT New York, who
went to Cuba with the Red Cross and re-
turned to the United States with DIR. Lesser
in the transport Concno and was assigned
to duty at Camp Wikoff told of the voyage
of the Concho from Santiago to Hampton
Roads
There were six deaths aboard and the
sick wanted for food and clothing. There
We're no delicacies aboard except those Mrs.
Lesser had.
DR.. Joseph Chmelicek, acting assistant
surgeon in the army. who was assigned to
a hospital at West Tampa. testified that
everything was done forsick soldiers. There
were 476 sick and female nurses.
"At West Tampa" the witness said, most
of the sickness was due to the inexperience
of the officers. the ignorance of the men
and the fact that all of them had more
money than WI good for them