The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-01-18
LIFE IN THE HOSPITAL.
Lew Wallace Has Different Kinds
of Fever at Manila.


ceived another letter from his
brother, Lewis H. Wallace, Co. II,
18th Minnesota regiment, in the
convalescent hospital at Manila,
Philippine islands. The letter is
under date of Nov 18th, and in it
the soldier gives his experience in
getting sick, and passing through
the hospitals of the United States
government in Manila. He says:
You have probably been sur
prised at not hearing from me, ex-
cept once in the last eight weeks, SO
I will tell you what happened to me
in that time.
Eight weeks ago yesterday was
in the G. c. tent reading (that was
Sunday here) when I felt a head
ache starting, and that night I had
some fever, and the next night
more. Then 1 was placed under
the doctors care at quarters until
the following Saturday when he
sent me to the division hospital
here. I was under the care of DR..
Black of North Dakota, one of the
best on the staff, and although l
was very sick, before three weeks
more were quite out I was conva-
lescent.
had been on light diet for two
days and had not been able to get
up, when the steward came around
and ordered me to pack up my
things and get ready to come down
here to the convalescent hospital,
This would have been unable to
do had not Charlie happened to
have been there to do everything
for me and help me out to the am
bulance.
It is about mile and a quarter
from one hospital to the other, and
l was so weak that I nearly tainted
two or three times on the way, as
there were ten in the ambulance,
and was in the middle, Finally
we arrived, and I was given a
spring bed up stairs in a large airy
room, and after lying down for
couple of hours, went to supper.
For supper we had pork and beans,
bread and butter and coffee. How
is that for a man scarcely out of
bed from typhoid fever? I ate
scarcely anything, but drank my
coffee. What 1 did eat started dia-
horrea, and suffered greatly for a
few days, although my diet was
changed from beans to light food
and from light to liquid. After
four or five days Of this, I found
myself unable to get up, and then it
was discovered that I had malaria
fever with temperture ranging
from 1O4 to 1O5, which lasted for
three or four days, in spite of their
bathing me ice water, to which they
added ice until thought I would
croak, but they didn't think so ap-
parently, for they kept me in the
tub for half an hour at time. Be-
sides this, they gave me sponge
baths every hour, with ice water.
Say, I had big time for awhile,
but good habits and fine constitu-
tion finally conquered, and to-day 1
am out of danger although I cannot
yet take three steps, but am gaining
a little more strength every day,
and although I can span and over
lap with two hands the largest part
of my thigh, and span my arm and
also my calf with one hand, yet
hope to be up in almost week.
have felt splendidly for almost a
week and half, yet for the last
three weeks have lived on boiled
milk with toast soaked in it, but to-
day am going to ask for a soft
boiled egg, and hope to meet with
success.
Now, I think that have sufficient
reason for not writing for the past
eight weeks, but you can tell by my
writing in this letter that although
run down, am comparatively we'll,
and that my nerves are all right, SO
I hope to write oftener in the future.
Charlie has finally persuaded me
to apply for my discharge as soon
as / am on my feet, and think that
I will do SO. If get it I will start
for home sometime in the next two
months, but it is by nomeans a sure
thing that I will get it.
Tho hocp;%ol xuo, ~~oo -.