New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-13
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

RriqaderGeneral GEORGE NJ. sTERNBERG
in charge. -
This important part Of the report s aye ps upI bs
read i'm its complete form to be properly Suuer
stood glance at the Commission S natiTe' ''
First-That the outbreak OF me wa, sTe Alto
ical Department was. In men ana materials, ~
gether unprepared TO meet the heCe'S''''' VI w.
= rencration Of contracted and CONTRACTING me ,
DDS administration was flpiy ,nd without
Department to operate t, ia'se'S' "'
Thrd-That in the absence OF speciat SG jnsnec
t,sno.,ors and the apparent infrequehcy OF HlSP1o
lions bv CHER surgeons, and OF othclal report :"
state Of things in camps ana nGsp1c Conditions Of
the Army as is the first duty imposed upon the De
pa ,b That the nursing force during the months
of May June and july was neither o %Gp9 9 The tbe
efficient reason ya, M hos9tai corps due
he failure of Congress to authorize IT'S establish
ment ana 70 the non-recognition In ne peSlnnlne
~ The v.alue Of women nurses and the extent TO
which their services could be secured ..,,oos
- t thn Dnnartment in. the care of the sick and
wounded was very much greater than had been
i Imsse l diemands ' Mere imperfectly met
Sixth-That powerless as the Department was 10
cont through the INTERPRETATION Of the Quartermas
ters Department, 1t was seriously crPPieu ~ hi Nc
all medical hospital supplies ,,,is,ra,,o, and
oner,ton may Justly be attributed in large meas
ure 10 the hurry and confusion incident TO the as
T mem ten lines larger than before for which no
nreuarations in advance had been or could ne mace
hecaise OF existing rules and regulations ..
Ninth-That Notwithstanding all the MANIFEST
errors of omission rather than OF commission "a
vast deal Of good work was done by medical ON,
GERS high and low. Regular and volunteer and
there were unusually few deaths among the wound-
ed and the sick.
RESERVE CORPS OF NURSES NEEDED.
What is needed by the Medical Department in
the future l.:
First-A larger force OF commissioned medical
Second-Authorty to establish in time OF war
proper volunteer hospital corps ..
Third-A reserve corps of selected trained women
nurses ready 10 serve when necessity shall arise
hut under ordinary circumstances owing no dutN
10 the War Department, except TO report ftSldeHce
al determined intervals. ,..
Fo,rth-A wears supply for army Of at least
cines hospital furniture ana stores az are no' nj
torially DANA ged by keeping, to he held constantly
ON hand in the medical supply depots -
Fifth-1he charge Of transportation 10 Such *
toni as will secure prompt shipment ana ready
delivery Of all medical supplies. , .
SiXh-The simplicatiOn or admlhstTduEr Pa-
pcr work" So that medical officers may be able
more thoroughly 10 discharge thelr sanitary an"
strictly medical duties. -,
Seventh-The securing Of such legislation a. VIII
authorize all surgeons I'm medical charge or troops
hospitals transports. trains and independent COM
mands 40 draw from the Subsistence department.
funds for the purchase OF such articles as may be
necessary to the proper eatmcnt OF soidlefs 700
sick 10 the army ration: th!s TO take the pace
Of all Communication Of ratons OF the SICK no" au-
thorizcd.
Eighth-Convaescent soldiers travelling on fur
Tough should he furnished transportation. sleeping
berths stateroOms. and 81 ~ per diem Tor sup
sis.encc i'm lieu OF rauons. the soldier not 10 ne
held accountable or chargeable Tor THIS amount