New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-21
GRESS IN PARIS.

physical disabilities which prevailed among the
,rnone IN the recent hostilities in Cuba and
Porto Rico.
Valuable as were Major Seamans observations
while with his regiment In Porto Rico. he in
tends 70 continue his researches on the subject
NJ an appropriate tropical ration. 1t was ascer-
tanned Yesterday by Tribune reporter that the
nurpose of Major Seaman's visit 10 the Philip
mines is TO collect data for the compilation or
paper dealing with this all-important subject OF
a proper army diet for hot climates, to be read
before the International Medical Congress- which
will be held in Paris in 1900 Although Major
Seaman is not going TO Manila in any special Of
fetal capacity, 1t is understood that the result
of his investigations will be embodied In re-
BORT which he has been requested to make 10
the War Department on his return. 1t was
learned from one OF Major Seamans friends that
before starting on the Sherman he received let
ters from high officials Of the Government. In
GLIDING the Surgeon-General, addressed to Cen
eral Otis and others in the PHILIPPINES. instruct
Ing them that every facility should be given to
him TO examine into the existing conditions
and effects there as 10 the rations served to the
soldiers
NEED FOR PROPER DIETARY
Since II will be necessary for the United States
10 garrison its tropical possessions 1t is
recognized by the Government that the question
Of a proper dietary for the men who will be
rallied upon to serve in those regions is of the
utmost Importance. Major Seaman does not in
tend to confne his observations to the Philip
pines alone. 1t is said that he will visit singa-
pore and Burmah for the purpose Of studying
the merits and defects Of the ration Of the Brit
lsh soldiers.
n inNeSti-
cations made IL clear that some change is i'm
perative in the food Of soldiers detailed for duty
In tropical chimes Apart from this evidence,
however Major Seaman's paper before the Acad-
envy OF Medicine was sufficiently convincing as
to this need. Abiding to the report Of the Ad-
iutant-General Of the Army. which showed that
the number Of killed and those who died from
wounds in the few brief weeks Of actual hostili-
lies was 345 while the mortality from disease
was . 4s5. Major Seaman remarked: Had these
proportions been reversed the figures would
have been nearer those TO be expected in an age
so advanced In sanitary science and dietetics
For the time from the landing Of the army at
slboney and the fight at San Juan Hill to the
signing Of the protocols. period OF less than
seven weeks. was an interval too short for dis
Ease other than that OF epidemic prevent
able character to develop into serious proper
tons especially when the class N men exposed
were those selected for the special service. 1t Is
true the conditions encountered we're somewhat
fornlda BILE, the season u invasion being the
worst that could have possibly been selected, the
heat and moisture Of the summer months com
bining TO produce that extreme relaxation Of the
system which was a factor IN the production OF
the many forms Of tropical diarrbes among the
troops. But we must look beyond climate for
the full responsibility.
From earliest times history has shown that
there has always been a greater mortality from
disease among armies during war than from
wounds especially in tropical countries. and
Spain. keen in her appreciation Of this fact. ana
knowing also that she had TO fight, courted
summer encounter convinced that the enemy
which would devastate our ranks was In DIS
ease rather than the guns OF her morros In
this she right. but the aid received by the
Spanish from the source mentioned was much
greater than IL would have been had our troops
been appropriately fed. Duncan, the highest
recognized authority In military hygiene states
in reference 10 campaigns in the tropics that
although there Is undoubted Distribution or
disease yet II is important TO remember tna', 30
far from being unable 10 cope win H. We can
act In antagonism 10 IL. Take the class OF DOVER
complaints: by insuring wholesome food soiid
and liquid, we can remove all causes Oh riIta-
ton from within: by insuring ratiohai ules'
We can remove all irritation from without
Again, in the matter Of conserVahcy' p9 llsuI
ing the absence of putrefaction from the camp
and the burning or dsInfection OF the excre.a'
we cut the ground away from the feet OF cnol-
era, enteric fever. yellow fever ana po"ei oo'"
plants"
SAME RATION IN ALL SECTIONS.
Pointing to the wide ranges OF temperature III
this country where In Alaska II dropped as 10"
as 90 degrees below zero. and in Manila and Ha-
vana 1t lowered around the 1OO-degree mark
making an extreme variation OF more than one
hundred and fifty degrees Major Seaman in his
paper drew attention 10 the fact that the Gov
eminent liberal In all things. freely issues these
supplies. but, strange 70 say. while making Ger