The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-13
GEN. sTERNBERG SCORED.
shortcomings Found I'm the Affairs
of the Medical Department..

of the Medical Department..
Medical departhent Brig. Gen.
sternberg in Charge
This important part of the report is
dwelt upon at great length. The COM
missions summing up is as follows
l.. That. at the outbreak of the war the
medical department was, in men and ma
teriais. altogether unprepared to meet the
necessities of the army called out.
z. That, as a result of the action through
generation of contracted and contracting
methods or administration 1t was impossi-
pie for the department to operate largely,
freely and without undue regard to cost
3. That, In the absence of a special corps
OF inspectors and the apparent infreqnuency
OF inspections by chief surgeons and of Of
nclal reports OF the state of things in camps
ana hospitals, there was not such investiga-
ton of the sanitary condition of the army
as Is the first duty imposed upon the depart
ment by the regulations. -
4. That the nursing force during the
months Of May, June and July was neither
ample nor efficient, reasons for which may
be found in the lack of proper volunteer
hospital corps, due to the failure of con-
gress to authorize its establishment and to
the non-recognition in the beginning of the
value OF women nurses and the extent to
which their services could be secured.
o. That the demand made upon the re-
sources OF the department in the care of
sick and wounded was very much greater
than had been anticipated, and consequently,
in like proportion, these demands were i'm
perfectly met.
to have supplies transferred from point to
point, except through the intermediation Of
the quartermaster's department. it was seri-
ously crippled In it's efforts to fulfill the regu-
lation duty Of furnishing all medical and
such supplies. E
7. That the shortcomings in administra-
tion and of operation may justly be attrib-
uted in large measure to the hurry and con-
fusion incident to the assembling of an army
of unframed officers and men, ten times
larger than before for which no prepara-
tions in advance, had been or could be made
because of existing rules and regulations.
8. That, Notwithstanding all the manifest
errors OF omission, a vast deal of good work
was done by medical officers, high and low,
regular and volunteer, and there were un-
usually few deaths among the wounded and
the sick.
What is needed by the medical department
in the future Is:
1. larger force of commissioned medical
officers
2. Authority to establish in time of war a
proper volunteer hospital corps.
g. reserve coFps5 of selected trained
women nurses, ready to serve when neces-
sity shall arise but under ordinary cir
cumstances owing no duty to the war de-
partment, except to report residence at de-
termined intervals.
4. years supply for an army Of at least
four times the actual strength Of all such
medicines, hospital furniture and stores as
are not materially udludSeu ny Keeping 10
be held constantly on hand in Abe medical
supply depots.
8. The charge of transportation to such
extent as will secure prompt shipments and
ready delivery of all medical supplies.
6. The simplification Of administrative
paper work. SO that medical officers may
be able to more thoroughly discharge their
strictly medical duties.
7. The securing of such legislation as will
authorize all surgeons in medical charge of
troops hospitals, transports. trains and in
dependent commands to draw from the sub
sfstence department funds for the purchase
Of such articles Of diet as may be necessary
to the proper treatment Of soldiers too sick
to use the army ration. This to take the
place Of all communication of rations of the
sick now authorized.
8. Convalescent soldiers travelling on fur
1ough should be, Furnished transportation,
sleeping berths or state rooms, and 81 SO
per diem for subsistence in lieu of rations,
the soldier not be held accountable or
chargeabe for this amount