New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
TYPHOID IN ARMY CAMPS.
DISCUSSED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS.
METHODS OF VOLUNTEER SURGEONS SEVERELY
CRITICISED.

METHODS OF VOLUNTEER SURGEONS SEVERELY
CRITICISED.
Washington May 3-The session Of the Associa-
tlon of American Physicians the Arlington to-
day was marked by an important paper on typhoid
in the volunteer camps, by DR.. v c. Vaughn. one
Of the Board OF Surgeons appointed by Surgeon
General Sternberg last summer 10 look into this
matter when the epidemic OF typhoid was prevalent
in the camps. The Board made thorough study
OF the subject and its report has been looked for
ward to authoritative work. The report IL
not yet completed. but Dr. Vaughns paper was In
the nature OF an advance statement with the sane
ton Of Surgeon General Sternberg. who was pres
ent at the meeting
The paper was a severe arragnment of the vol
unteer surgeons. and incidentally. OF the officers
who responsible for the policing OF the great
camps of Jacksonville, Chckamauga, Camp Anger
and Monteuk. The Board visited all these points.
and found that not only was there great zeal
typhus than at first supposed. but that
the surgeons. mostly OF the volunteer class, were,
from ignorance or other motives. treating and re-
porting typhus under the OF persistent
malaria" Indigestion gastric fever and ''ty-
pho-malaria."
Blood examination OF many Of the malaria" pa
tents failed to show the presence OF the malaria
bacillus. but there every indication OF we'll
marked typhus. These patients were being treated
with quinlne. and naturally either died or had to
be to city hospitals where their diseases
properly diagnosed.
The Board made a careful examination OF the
water supply OF the various camps. and found that
the prevalence OF typhoid could not be charged to
impure water In any large degree. The explana-
ton. DR.. Vaughn said. was in the dsgustingly
filthy condition OF the camps, where the excreta OF
typhus patients strewn broadcast. with no APP
parent effort either TO sterilize collect IT, so as
10 prevent its spreading contagion to the remain
der Of the camp The final report OF the Board VIII
deal largely with sanitary measures for the govern
ing OF camps and the best form OF sterilizing ap-
paratus to use In case Of fever outbreaks.
Surgeon-Gener Sternberg said II certainly
seemed strange after the lessons Of the Civil war;
that camps should have been infected by typhus.
which known we'll. He had issued crcu-
lar to all medical officers, pointing out the dangers
and explaining how they might be avoided lie
referred to the appointment OF volunteer medical
officers by the Governors of States, the former
thereby becoming responsible for the health or
camps. The result had been unsatisfactory. III
seemed to him 10 be inconsistent that Americans
should set themselves up TO show the Spaniards
how to eradicate yellow fever In their cities while
He declared that any adverse conditions which
prevailed at Montauk should not be charged against
the Regular Army medical officers, few OF whom
there
DR.. George Dock, OF the University OF Michigan
spoke OF his Investigations at the Sternberg Cen
eral Hospital. The misunderstanding regarding the
effects Of quinine form. DR.. Dock declared the
striking faults OF the volunteer medical service
Most Of the volunteer medical officers went to camp
with the expectation of fighting no end OF malaria
In regiment each man had 200 grains OF quinine
and a three-ounce bottle OF paregoric The great
bulk OF supposed malaria cases were not malaria
less Of this. dosed their patients with thirty or
forty grains Of quinine day