Evening star., 1899-05-15
HEALTH AT MANILA
0LALl III Al MANILA
Chief Surgeon Lippineatt's Interest
ing Report.
NUMBER KILLED AND WOUNDED
Abundance Of All Sorts Of Medical
Supplies.
DANGER FROM DISEASES
DANGER FROM DISEASES

DANGER FROM DISEASES
Surgeon General sternberg has made
public the following report from Chief
Surgeon Lippincott at Manila, under date
of March 81:
Since the outset the greatest care has
been taken to secure accuracy Of record
both in the first and second reserve corps
hospitals and in the regiments well.
Nearly all of the wounded are brought to
the first named hospital at once, but
number were taken to the second reserve,
and many who are recovering are sent to
the latter hospital from the first reserve.
On the night Of the 4th of February the
first of long series Of engagements be-
gan. Total number of United States troops
killed or who have died from wounds re-
ceived since February Is 1872. Total num-
Der of wounded during this same period and
not included in the above is S47. OF the
slight wounds many of the patients have
returned to duty and quite a number have
gone to quarters. Several lost little if any
time and were soon on the fighting line
again.
The effect of the battle was marvellous
on the SICK, Tor 1t Is a fact that many men
who were hardly considered well enough
for duty were soon in the line when the at
tack on our front became general. The Sc
we're cases are doing we'll, and 1t is believed
that many of them will soon be in cond-
tion to be returned to the United States. A
number OF the wounded, together with the
sick men and convalescents, were ordered
home on the Arizona which left here on
the 10Th instant. These patients will all do
We'll on the way, and it is quite possible
that many of the sick who could not re-
cover here will be At for luty by the time
that the transport arrives at San Fran
cisco.
Had Every Comfort.
Many of the wounded have nearly re-
covered, but 1t Is not considered probable
that they will be ready for duty for some
time. During and since the beginning of
the outbreak our men have had every pos
slble comfort, and the surgical attendance
has been excellent The time has perhaps
hardly arrived when a full history of the
first aid afforded our men should be writ
ten. l may say, however, that the sur
geons have not been taken unawares. The
medical officers of this command had been
making preparations for a possible attack
on our forces, and when ii did come Ware
ready for all emergencies.
The hrst aid packages have proven to be
of the greatest possible value indeed our
whole equipment reflects the highest honor
for our department.. Litters pouches med
lcal and surgical chests were in readiness;
easily prepared articles of food, stimulants
and water were on hand, and our ambu-
ldHce company, reasSemhled for this work,
did and still is doing excellent service.
The Signal Corps put the HOSPITALS in
communication with the troops at the front
ana thus We We're able to. send supplies at
a udaofis moments notice. For this We are all
grateful, well knowing that much suffering
was thereby prevented. Our transporta-
ton is greatly improved by using freight
The first aid packages have proven to be
iolos, and by running the hospital boat up
the river for those in the vicinity of San
Pedo. Macau and Pasig Two-horse Iitters
We're hastily constructed, bamboo poles be-
ing used Coolies act3as litter bearers un-
ger ger direction OF members of the Hospital
corps. We have sixteen aIabulances and
number OF the kind OF carriage known as
quIlez, and also many carramattis
The Abundant Supplies.
referring to supplies generally, it is
simply astonishing that 50 far off from our
own country we have been able to find
ourselves so weH provided in everything
essential We have had an abundance of
supplies OF every description, the greater
part, of course, brought from the United
states, but many articles were purchased
here. Besides medical stores obtained in
Manila we have been able to get a large
number of rattan chairs and lounges
these were absolutely necessary for the
comfort of the sick and wounded and l
knew would be approved by the surgeon
general. These chairs and lounges are
used chiefly out of doors in shady places
able to be about
We have had ample funds to meet all
demands.
These were used chiefly for medical sup
plies, that were running low prior to the
receipt of stores from San Francisco. When
obliged to purchase here we were able to
procure good articles and at reasonable
rates. We have three large store rooms
better are not to be found anywhere and
I believe I can say that none In the United
States are better stocked. 1t has been the
greatest pleasure to me that we have been
able to meet the surgeon generals wishes
IN regard to sufficient medical supplies for
this army. They have been and are now
abundant and good. Among other articles
purchased here was large lot of paiamas
many having been issued and more soon
will be, and are a great comfort to the
patients.
The Four Hospitals
1.-The chief hospitals are four in nun,bar
and are known as the first reserve eorns
hospital (Crosby's), the second reserve
corps hospital CKeefers), the convaIescent
hospital (Owen's) and the district hospital
at present under the care of Acting Assist
ant Surgeon Titus. The first two are To-
Gated In Manila, but beyond the walls The
convalescent hospital is on Corregidor Is
land, situated about thirty miles from Ma
Mia. The district hospital is in Cavite and
was the first established by our troons T
have already described the first reserve
corps hospital in former report. but at
that time was not able to give a plan of the
buildings. Now. however. this is well shown
IN the accompanying tracing and blue print,
for which 1 am indebted to Lieut. Col Pot
ter of the engineers.
Surgeon Crosby has done an extraordi-
nary amount of work on these buildings
and grounds, so that the entire establish
ment seems to have taken on new life and
appears somewhat worthy OF our DEPART
ment. The wards are fairly we'll ventilated
and electric lights have been supplied This
hospital, originally intended by the Spanish
| to accommodate not less than 500 patients
has never been flledato that extent by us
We have had that many men in the hospi-
tai, but the buildings5were reinforced by a
large number of hospital tents. great
Improvement has been made in the water
closets; the wretched solds vaults have been
cleaned out and sealed and metallic cans
supplied These arescarEied off, cleansed
and brought back tosplare twice daily by
native laborers employed about the es-
tablishment, so that an immense amount of
filth Is taken away, inHtead of continuing to
pollute the soil. as has been going on every
where in Manila for agessk