The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-13
Medical Department.

The part of the report dealing with the
medical department, Brig. Gen. George M.
Sternberg in charge, is of great length and
must be read in its complete form to be
properly understood. A glance at the COM
missions summing up, however will sufti-
GENTLY indicate it's nature.
'FIrst-That at the outbreak of the war
the medical department was in men and
materials, altogether unprepared to meet the
necessities of the army called out
'Second-That as result of the action
through a generation of contracted and con-
tractine. methods of administration it was
impossible for the department. to operate
largely, freely and without undue regard to
.'Third-That in the absence of a special
corps Of inspectors, and the apparent infre-
quency of inspection by chief surgeons, and
of official reports of the state of things in
camps and hospitals, there was not such in
vestigation Of the sanitary conditions of the
army as is the first duty imposed upon the
department by the regulations.
"F'ourth-That the nursing force during
the months Of May, June and July was
neither ample nor efficient, reasons for
which may be found in the lack of a proper
volunteer hospital corps, due to the failure
of Congress to authorize its establishment
and to the nonrecognition in the beginning
of the value of women nurses and the eX-
tent to which their services could be Sc
cured.
"Fffth-That the demand made upon the
resources Of the department in the care of
sick and wounded were very much greater
than had been anticipated, and, consequent
ly, in like proportion these demands were
imperfectly met.
"Sixth-That, powerless as the depart
ment was to have supplies transferred from
point to point, except through the inter-
mediation of the quartermasters depart
ment, it was seriously crippled in it's efforts
to fulfill the regulation duty of furnishing
all medical and hospital supplies
"Seventh-That the shortcomings in adj
ministration and operation may Justly be
attributed in large measure, to the hurry
1CYlfTI fVnR hn nf
an army of unframed officers and men, ten
times larger than before, for which no
preparations in advance had been or could
be made because of existing rules and reg
ulatiOns.
"Eighth-That Notwithstanding all the
manifest errors, Of omission rather than
of commission, vast deal of good work
was done by medical officers. high and low,
regular and volunteer, and there were I'M
usually few deaths among the wounded and
the sick.
What is needed by the medical depart
ment in the future is:
"First-A larger force of commissioned
medical officers.
"Second-Authority to establish in time of
war a proper volunteer hospital corps.
'Third-A reserve corps of selected
trained women nurses, ready to serve when
necessity shall arise, but under ordinary
circumstances owing no duty to the War
Department. except to report residence at
determined intervals.
"Fourth-A years supply for an army of at
least four times the actual strength, of all
such medicines, hospital furniture and
stores as are not materially damaged by
keeping, to be held constantly on hand in
the medical supply depots.
"Fifth-The charge of transportation to
such extent as will secure prompt shipment
and ready delivery Of all medical supplies.
"SlXth-The simplifcation of administra-
tive paper work. so that medical officers
may be able to more thoroughly discharge
their sanitary and strictly medical duties.
"Seventh-The securing of such legisla-
ton as will authorize all surgeons in med
zeal charge of troops, hospitals, transports.
trains and independent commands to draw
from the subsistence department funds for
be necessary to the proper treatment of
soldiers too sick to use the army rations.
This TO take the place of all Communication
of rations of the sick now authorized.
"ConValescent soldiers travelling on fur
Tough should be furnished transportation
! sleeping berths or state rooms, and $3.50 per
! diem for subsistence in lieu of rations the
| soldier not to be held accountable or
| chargeabe for this amount"