The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-10
ORIGIN OF TYPHOID.
How It Started and Spread in o. 8.
Army Camps.

army camps.
Washington. Dec. 1O-Surgeon General
Sternburg made public today a report
upon the origin and spread of typhoid
fever in the United States military
camps during the Spanish war of 1898,
prepared at his instance by a board
consisting of Major Walter Reed. sur
geon, U. S. A, Major Victor c. Vaughan,
division surgeon u. s. " and Major
Edward o. Shakespeare, brigade sur
geOn, u. S. v The surgeon general
prefaces the report by calling attention
to the vast amount of work the medical
corps was called upon to perform during
the war in order to cope with the tre-
mendous increase of the army in the
field, and comments upon the wide
spread prevalence of typhoid in 1885, 20
900 cases of this disease appearing
among the troops encamped within the
limits of the United States, from May
until September of that year.
A general summary of the conclusions
reached by the board indicates that dur
ing the Spanish war every regiment
constituting the first, second, third,
fourth fifth and seventh army corps de-
veloped typhoid fever. this being true
of both the volunteer and regular COM
mands. More than 80 per cent. of the
volunteer regiments are shown to have
developed typhoid within eight weeks
after going into camp, and the fever
developed also in certain of the regular
regiments within three to five weeks
after the tents went up. Typhoid be-
came epidemic in all camps, large and
small, north and south, and was found
to be so widely distributed in this coun-
try that one or more cases are likely
to appear in any regiment within eight
weeks after assembly, whether on the
march or stationary.
1t is also stated that with typhoid
fever as widely disseminated as it is IN
this country the chances are that If a
regiment of 1900 men should be as
senbled in any section ana kept IN
camp having the most perfect sanitary
conditions. one or more cases of the
fever would develop. Nevertheless 1t
was found that many commands during
the war were unwisely located; that the
space allotted to regiments was in some
instances entirely inadequate, and that
many regiments were allowed to remain
ON one site too long.
There were regiments at Chicka-
manga which did not move tent from
the time of their arrival in May to their
departure late in August. Requests Tor
changes in location made by medical
officers on account of the unfit condi-
ton of the camps in question were not
always granted. In some instances
camps were set up in the face of earnest
protests from medical officers, who pro
tested against the sanitary unhtness OF
the sites selected. The camps became
very filthy in general, it is stated. and
line officers are thus held responsible TO
some extent for the unsanitary condi-
lions that QeNelOpeQ. III liltS SOliACNSACh
the board suggests that greater author
itv be given medical officers in ques-
tions relating to the hygiene OF camps
The board condemns in general the
method of disposing of the excretions of
the human body and fecal matter,
holding that a lack of proper facilities
in this respect was in large measure re
sponsible for the prevalence of fever in
the camps. Where water carriage can
not be secured in permanent camps, IT
is suggested that all fecal matter be
disinfected and then carted way from
the camp. and the board has made a
special recommendation that galvanized
iron troughs containing milk Of lime be
utilized for this purpose.
Infected water was found to be an
unirnportant factor in the spread OF
typhoid in the national encampnents
of 1895 At Chickamauga, Jacksonville
Camps Alger and Meade, communicating
water is stated to have played put a
small part in spreading the fever. 10
guard against the contamination OF tne
water supply, however, facilities for the
sterilization of water for troops in the
field are recommended.
Flies. which swarmed over infected
fecal matter in the camp pits are be-
lieved to have been transmitters or
typhoid bacillus. It has been conclu-
sively settled that a company badly IN
fected with typhoid can not rid itself
of the infection by simply changing its
location, as it carries with it the spe-
cif1c agents of the disease in the bodies
of it's men and in their clothing, bed
ding and tentage. Indeed. it has been
found that an extended ocean voyage
does not avail, but that complete dis
infection of men and effects is absolutely
necessary
makes it necessary the board urges that
one command should not be located
upon a site recently occupied and va
Gated by another. 1t is urged that the