Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-11
THE PRESIDE CAMP
Report of Col. Greenleaf to the Sur
geon General.
IMPROVED METHOD OF SANITATION
Returning Manila Volunteers and
Recruits Well Treated.
TYPHOID FEVER SCARCE

TYPHOID FEVER SCARCE
In view of the scandals circulated about
| the condition and management of Camp
| Wykof. Long Island. where the troops
which took part in the Santiago campaign
| were taken at the close of the Spanish war
| the report of Col. Greenleaf of the medical
| department in regard to the camp estab-
| l.shed at the Preside of San Francisco for
| the reception of the volunteer troops re-
turning from the Philippines is regarded
| at the War Department as of more than
| ordinary interest and Importance The re-
| port, in part is as follows:
| This camp is now occupied by three reg
iments, the I'd Oregon, LIST Nebraska and
| 10th Pennsylvania, and the Utah Battery,
| aggregating about $500 men, the infantry
| regiments being in the section on the north
| side Of the railway track, and the artillery
on the south side. The general health of
| the men is excellent. the sick report ex-
| elusive of cases that were placed in the
| hospital Immediately after arrival, being
| 4.6 per cent of the effective force and made
| up of such trivial ailments as mild afTec-
| tons OF the air passages, indigestion, rheu-
| matlsm etc. The fears that were enter
| tanned OF serious illness owing to the eli
mate and the scantily clad condition of thu
! men have not been realized. Many of the
| men had thick clothing on arrival and
| those vino had more borrowed from their
| more fortunate comrades. Nearly all have
| observed the precautionary directions
| against exposure. and the comfortably heat
ed quarters have given them shelter and
| Iounglng places when off duty
| The Sanitary Corps.
| The sanitary corps Civilian employees
has Kept the iatrine troughs. garbage and
| waste cans in excellent order. and the
urine. tubs, placed each night Ia the com
| pany streets. have freed the camp ground
| from deflemcnt of this nature The trough
| system for latrines is a perfect success.
| and these places, instead of being noisome
| SIGHTS, are now the show places of the
| camp, the houses and their SURROUNDINGS
| being neat and clean in appearance and en-
| tirelE free from bad odor. Indeed there is
| hothlhS about them that can offend the
| senses OF sight or smell. The interior DO
| lice OF the camp of the I'd Oregon NoIun-
| teerS is not good. Kitchens. dining rooms.
| bath houses and lavatories are not kept
| tidy or clean. in spite Of orders reiterated
| each Gay by the colonel of the regiment.
| The contrast between the work of the
ScaNthSerS at the iatrineS and about the
| garbage cans. with that of the soldier po-
| lice in the quarters, Kitchens and dining
| rooms Is very marked and fully sustains
| the opinion previously expressed in my re-
ports. that the unframed soldier cannot
| be made TO do the work Of scavenger. to
made
to keep himself or his SUR oundings clean
| Inc food supply is abundant. well pre-
| pared, cooked and served. There is added
| TO each 100 of the regular rations twelve
| ana Gnc-half gallons of milk. ten pounds of
butter and ten dozen eggs: this is furnished
by the subsistence department under the
act OF Congress approved March 3 1880
| Tor issues TO enlisted men in camp during
| the periods of recovery from low condi-
| lions of health consequent upon service in
| unhealthy regions in facilitating eli
| mates. 1t may truthfully be said that
the food in this camp is much better in
| variety, quality and preparation than is
| found in the average hotel anywhere in this
| country. The medical records of the 2i
| oregon Volunteer Regiment are in excel
| lent condition, better, in fact than any
| other volunteer regiment | have seen at
| muster out / have not yet examined the
| records of the other regiments here. The
medical and hospital property of this regi-
ment has been transferred to the supply
depot in San Francisco. and the regiment al
hospital furnished from the general camp
supply l had provided for the troops
The Detention Camp at Angel Island.
This camp is so far completed that one
regiment can be accommodated at any
time The hospitals for contagious and
non-contagious diseases are in position and
equipped, a medical officer and detail of
hospital corps men is on the ground and
a common diSpenSary is ready for service
Fortunately, up to this date there has
been no occasion to place any of the in
coming transports in quarantine and
therefore the camp has not been used
These camps of recruits have an occu-
pancy of about 1900 men, although this
number changes from day to day as trans
ports leave for the Philippines and recruits
come in from the east; the general health
of the men is excellent, the sick report
showing an average percentage of 5s of
which 33 per cent is vaccinia, 10 per cent
malarfal in men who have had previous
Car IN lNr,lNa
matism, indigestion, venereal etc Boards
of medical officers are in session for re-
examination of the physical condition of
the men who arrive, and many have been
rejected; the exact percentage l have not
been able to ascertain. but it is large
enough to show that sufficient care is not
yet exercised in the selection of recruits
especially for service in the tropics
-Four cases of typhoid fever have been
taken to the general hospital from these
camps, the history of each one of which |
studied carefully as soon as it was report
ed, and all gave evidence of importation
Precautionary disinfection in the camp
latrines has, however, been thoroughly
practiced, and think there is no danger of
this disease gaining any foothold. IN or
der that errors in diagnosis NAV be avoid
ed medical officers are instructed to make
careful study of all fever cases. Advan-
tase was taken of the occurrence of these
cases to introduce the trough system of
latrfneS, and to do away with the dry
earth box system previously in use The
change will be completed in a short time
The urine tubs are in use in these camps
also.
Food for Recruits.
Complaint having been made of the
presence of vernin in the bedding and
clothing of some of the men, 1 had large
caldrons for boiling water. put up in the
camps, into which material so infected was
ordered to be placed; these caldrons when
not so used, supply hot water for the laun-
drying of the clothing of the men, galvan-
lied iron wash tubs having been furnished
for this purpose.
THE food of the recruits is ample in
quantity, but has little variety beyond the
regular ration; 1t is fairly well cooked but
indifferently served; mess tables had to be
made from any lumber that was available
in the two older camps. but in the new
camp they were furnished with the build
ingS. The latrines. garbage cans, etc. are
emptied by men of the sanitary corps, and
the kitchens, tents etc. are Doliced nv SOL