The times., 1899-11-15

undertaken ana carried 70 successful
conclusion by the chief surgeon of this
department. This was no less than the
suppression of smallpox in the island by
means OF u general vaccination of the pop
ulatiCn. The work begun in January. 1899.
was carried on with energy and system
until completed. The vaccine farm. which
was established al Coamo Springs TO PIo-
vide the necessary lymph, was discontinued
July l. 1899.
That the sanitary arrangements on the
transports which conveyed the Eighth
Army Corps across the Pacific were in
comparatively good condition. although
hastily made may be inferred from the
fact that only twelve deaths occurred in
the command of 1862 officers and men
during their long voyage, equivalent TO an
annual death rate CT only about per
thousand Of the strength. These arrange
ments were greatly improved after the
publication Of the regulations for the
Army transport service, November 6, 1898.
Care CT the Sick.
The work Of caring for the sick fnl
wounded in the Philippines was carried out
as follows;
TO care for the sick of the corps, four
large hospitals were estab i-he5-the first
reserve hospital. in buildings fcrmer.y o.
cupied by the Spaniards as a mi mi-itary hos
pital; the second reserve hosp tai in a
building formerly used as an academy; a
small hospital at Cavite, and one for con
4 Yalescents on CorregidOr Island. the whole
having a capacity Of 1,73S beds and being
well provided with everything nee flu for
! the treatment and comfort OF the SILK and
wounded That these hospitals ware fully
competent TO meet the demands made
upon them is shown by the fact that dur
Inc aa+T hos IN
February and March, 246 Filipinos were re
! ceived and cared for in the first reserve
/ hospital
During the attack on February / and
! the subsequent advance Of oar troops, the
! ambulance company did excellent service
in bringing the wounded to the dressing
stations, from which they were promptly
/ despatched by rail TO the first reserve hos
+ pitai in Manila.
The report closes with the following rec
( concentrations for the betterment Of the
medical service;
The medical corps Of the Army which
! was scarcely adequate before the war with
( Spain for our army of 25,C00 men, is now
entirely inadequate. and should be in
! creased as soon as is practicable.
Physicians and surgeons from civil lie,
I however well qualified professionally, as a
rule are not prepared to assume the le-
( sponsibihties Of medical officers charged
with administrative duties and the sani-
+ tary supervision of camps. The proper
/ performance of such duties cannot be ey-
pected from a physician without military
training or experience, no matter how dis
tinguished a position he may have held in
I civH life.
Many Of the commissioned medical Off
: GERS CT the volunteer army and of the
T acting assistant surgeons have made rapid
1 progress in acquiring a knowledge of their
military duties and have demonstrated
their fitness for the military service. In
/ dIling vacancies in the medical corps these
! gentlemen should, in my opinion. nave
+ the preference when they come within the
/ established age limit and are able TO pass
4 a satisfactory professional and physical
examination.
The value Of the aphorism in time of
/ peace prepare for war has received addi-
Iional support during our recent expert
/ ence. This preparation should include a
corps Of trained medical officers larger
than is absolutely necessary for the Army
on peace basis and systematic instruc-
ttOn ia military medicine and hygiene for
the medical officers Of the National Guard
as well as for those of the Regular Army;
also instruction Of line officers in the ele-
ments OF hygiene and especially in camp
4 sanitation II should also include the
establishment of camping grounds in v8Ti-
( Gus parts Of the country, having an ample
supply OF pure water, a proper system of
. sewers, etc. II our volunteers could have
3 been assembled in such camps during the
late war a saving in lives and money would
have resulted. which would without
doubt, have demonstrated the economy of
such preparation for war in time of
peace"