The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-08
SANITARY LESSONS OF WAR
Discussed by Surgeon General Stern
berg Before Medical Convent ton.

berg Before Medical Convention.
Columbus. O., June S.-The interest in
today's session of the American Medi-
cal association convention conferred
largely in the address of Surgeon Cen
eral Sternberg of the United States
army. Gen Sternberg was accorded
close attention and warmly applauded.
The subject of his address was SAM
tary lessons of the war" He said:
''As compared with the civil war and
with other great wars during the pres
ent century the mortality from wounds
and disease among our troops during
the war with Spain has been low. Our
wounded have, to a large extent, had
the advantage of prompt treatment
with antiseptic dressings, and very
considerable proportion of those who
were not killed outright have recovered
without any mutilating operation or
septic complication. The mortality
from disease has also been compare
lively low, but unfortunately during
the first months of the war that
scourge of new levies of troops, typhoid
fever, prevailed in many OF our camps
and claimed numerous victims. 1t is
well known to sanitarfanS and military
surgeons that general rule more
soldiers succumb to disease than are
killed by the bullets of the enemy, and
our recent war has not been an eXcep-
ton in this regard. The total number
of deaths reported in our enlarged
army, including regulars and volun-
teers. from May 1, 1898, to April 80,
1899, is 6.406. OF these 5,43S died of dis
ease and 96S We're killed in battle or
died of wounds. injuries or accident
During the civil war the number of
deaths from disease was 1S6,216. The
number who were killed in battle or
died of wounds was 93s69, or about
One-half of the deaths from disease.
The total deaths from disease in the
Union armies from the commencement
of the war to the 31st of Decem Der,
1852, was "a 1926, and in the confederate
armies during the same period. 31,23S.
THE average annual mortality from
typhoid fever in our regular army since
the civil war has been: For the first
decade QS6S-1S1O, 50 per 100000 of mean
strength (.95 per 1,0O0); for the second
decade CSTS-1SSD, 80 per 100000. This
latter rate compares favorably with
that of many of our principal cities
For example, it is exceeded by the
typhoid death rate in the city of Wash
ington, which is 7S.1 per 100, 600 average
of ten years, 1SSS-1S9O; by that of the
city of Chicago, which is ga per 900;
by that of Pittsburg, which is IS per
100000. These figures, however, do not
show the entire mortality in the cities
mentioned as a result of typhoid fever,
for without doubt many of the deaths
ascribed to '.malariaI fevers'' were, in
fact, due to typhoid infection Thus in
the city of Washington the deaths re-
ported from typhoid and typho-ma-
lariaI fever average Of ten years. num-
bered ISL per 100, coo of the population,
while pa per 100. coo are recorded as due
to nalarial fever In Baltimore the
mortality, recorded, from typhoid
fever is 41-5 and from ypho-maIaria1
and other maIariaI fevers'' 1873 per 100
600. In st. Louis the figures are, typhoid
fever 35.7, typhO- maIariaI and other ma
larial fever 40 per 100, 900; in New Or
leans. typhoid fever POI, typhO-maIarial
and other malarial fevers 1912 per 100,-
600.
1T will be seen that sanitary condi-
lions at our military posts in time of
peace as judged by the typhoid death
rate, compare favOrably with those in
our large cities in various parts of the
country. As a matter of fact, great at
tention has been given to post SANTA
ton for many years past, and through
the persistent efforts Of officers of the
medical department great improvements
have been made, especially during the
past ten years. The result is shown in
a reduction of the typhoid mortality
from 1OS per 100000 in the ten years
ending in 1887 to 80 per 100. 900 in the
decade ending in 1897. Hygiene is made
one of the principal subjects of examin-
alton for candidates desiring appoint
ment in the medical corps OF the army,
and at subsequent examinations for
promotion to the grade of captain and
major is given a most prominent place.
1t is also the most prominent subject in
the course OF instruction at the Army
Medical school, where the student-offi-
GERS spend five hours daily for period
of five months in practical laboratory
work relating for the most part to the
cause and prevention of infectious dis
eases. 1t should be remembered. how
ever, that the Army Medical school was
not established until the year 1893, and
consequently but a small proportion of
the medical officers of the army have
had the advantage of this course of in
structiOn."
DIR. J. P. LEWIS HONORED
The business session of the associa-
ton today was full of interest and con-
siderable feeling was developed. The
nominating committees made their re-
port which was adopted after the name
of DR.. Walter Wyman of the hospital
marine corps was added to the judic-
larry council. The officers as elected
follows:
Presfdent-Dr W. w. Keene, PhiIa-
delphia.
First vice president-Dr. C. A. Whea-
ton, St. Paul.
Second vice president-Dr. E. Furg-
uson. New York.
Third vice president-Dr. G. NJ. Allen,
Liberty. Mo.
Fourth vice SreSident-Dr w F
Middleton, Davenport, Ia
Secretary-Dr. c. H Simmons, Chi
cago-
Treasurer-Dr. H. NJ. Newman, Chi
cago.
Librarian-Dr. G. w. Webster, Chi
cago.
Chairman committee on arrange
nents-Dr- Philip Marvel. Atlantic
City. N J
judiciary councfI-Dr x E d. Crit |
fifth, Kansas City, Mo: DR.. J. E Cook, |
Cleveland; DR.. J. H Baillaiche Wash |
ingtOn, D. C; DR.. J. P. Lewis, Topeka, |
Kan; DR.. ]. W Irwin, Louisville; DR.. !
F. H Wiggin, New York; DR. Walter |
Wyman. hospital marine corps.
Atlantic City. y. twas chosen as the /
place Of next meeting
Races and Horse Show.
Five races and five horse show events !
each day at the fair grounds, June 20. |