Evening star., 1899-04-10
WOUNDED DOING WELL
Condition of the Medical Department at
Manila
Chief Surgeon Lippincott's Report 60
Surgeon General SternbcrE of
Operations Early In February.

Surgeon General Sternberg has received
from Chief Surgeon Lippincott. at Manila.
account Of the operations OF the med
ical department out there during the heavy
lighting that took place on the ith and 9TH
of February. at the beginning of hostihtes
between the insurgents and the United
States forces. Surgeon Lippncott says that
the medical department was In fine condi-
ton at the moment of the first fire and
continued to improve daily. that there
was never delay in securing excellent at
tention for the wounded. The wounded
We're all doing well. and singular to say.
| there have been no amputations. except in
the case Of a few fingers.
Even in early February It was getting
pretty warm in the Philippines. and the re-
ports of the medical officers show that the
average range Of temperature between the
9th and the 23d was as follows: Seven am.
6G degrees: 10 am, 13 degrees, l.. 81 de-
grees; pm. 81 degrees; pm. - degrees;
6 pm. a. degrees; pm, t9 degrees
The text Of Surgeon Lippincotts report is
as follows:
The Outbreak Of HostiIities.
81 have the honor TO render the following
report of the engagement beginning on the
night of the 4th and 9Th of this month:
For many days We were in expectation
of an attack on cur lines. and this came
about Q pm. on the 4th ard lasted till the
morning of the 7th. Although the firing
was active in front of several parts OF our
lines, nearly all wounds were received after
midnight of the 4th and later in the month.
The lists herewith give the dates. etc. and
are believ al to he accurate. A few of the
mortally wounded arrived at the hospital
1 before death took place. Those not NOR
tally wounded gave every sign of hope of
recovery on arrival. All We're quickly
brought in, AMI dressing went in order and
with proper rapidty. They received instant
attention on the field, for although the at
| tack was sudden and perhaps not looked Tor
on that night everything had been done in
advance to secure the most thorough first
aid in the event Of an engagement.
The division surgeons and the medical
officers of the regiments were alert and
everything necessary was in readiness for
Immediate use. The ambulance company
was reaSSembled. ambulanceS thoroughly
equipped with travelling rations 4 fulI s,,r1-
ply of first aid packages. litters. lanterns,
water. beef extract. dressings stimulants
etc. were at hand. and the ambulances re-
ihforced by carriages and carromates. I
am able to say that our department was
/ IN hne condition at the moment of the first
| f1re. and continued to improve from day TO
ddy, SO that there never was DELAY IN Sc
curing excellent attention for the wounded
/ The hospitals. too. We're in readiness. the
nrst reserve hospital CCrosby'sD being used
! Tor all Of the severe cases Many of tha
! slight ones, a few minor cases however
were sent 10 the second reserve co1ps' hos
! ppnat theefer'sD. while a number OF slight
atrfVra ,F..I
! hospitals
The men of the hospital corps wer4 prop-
erly equipped. and every man understood
! the part he was expected to take days
before the attack, and there was the great
| est enthusiasm among the men in perform
| ing the duties assigned to them
Wounded Doing Well.
1.-The wounded are doing well at this
date. They have every reasonable comfort.
and the prospect for their ultimate recovery
| is very encouraging.
| our supplies have been so uberaIIy
| granted us that not wish has been ex-
| pressed that have not been able to meet
and for all this we are grateful to the sur
| geon general
The inclosed lists of wounded give all
| data from the commencement of the bat
tie to the 1lth. for there hardly WAS an alb
| solute intermssion. although the fire was
| only desultory at times
| IT Is matter of congratulation that first
| aid instruction had been given for some
| time, systematic teaching having been in
| sututed in the regiments, so that the curps
| men were quite skilful in their first aid
work. The distance the men had to be
| taken before arrival at the first reserve
| hospital was from two to six miles and
| this distance was covered quickly though
! with every due consideration for the
| wounded.
The government ambulances worked
| well, but We should have more of them
! Only eight were available However, with
| the other carriages We managed very well
| Some of the wounded We're taken i'm box
| cars from Caloocan, properly furnished
! with cots. blankets. pillows. ETC. and on
| arrival at the depot in Manila they were
| carried in ambulancas to the hospital Many
| Of the slighter cases have returned to duty
| and others will soon do so. Thus far there
! have been no primary amputations, ex-
| cepting few fingers