The evening times., 1900-03-16

Surgeon General Sternberg has received
an illustrated report on the supplementary
hospital established at Manila 1t is in
book form and filled with exterior
views OF the buildings and pictures
of the interior of the wards. 1t
also contains a list of the rules and
regulations governing the hospital and
the names of the physicians and nurses.
The report is made by Capt. John S. Kulp,
assistant surgeon at Manila, who is in
| command of the hospital. In part it says;
The supplementary wards, better
known as the third reserve hospital, were
organized in accordance with a para graph
in the orders from Headquarters Depart
ment of the Pacific and Eighth Army
Corps of last May. At that time the
crowded condition of other hospitals made
place for their convenient overflow me-
cessity, but there was an inclination TO
avoid the ward hospital in connection with
the new institution.
The place selected is a rectangular
piece of ground, about $50 by 400 feet in
size, situated on the Paseo de Aguadas,
and at that time it was partly surrounded
by the weed and vegetation filled moat of
an ancient fortifcation. The six wooden
buildings, the largest OF which is over 500
feet long, were in condition of inde-
scribabe filth, and the general aspect one
of tumble down neglect. The barracks had
been occupied by various volunteer organi-
cation ever since the advent of the Ameri-
can troops.
H.
interest. Many years ago Manila's first
military hospital was built here. and was
destroyed by an earthquake. From its
ruins arose the composite stone buildings
of the Engineer Corps which fell during
the all-Eight convulsiOn OF 1863, only to he
rebuilt, and again destroyed within a few
minutes by the short violent uphedval of
July, 1850. The ground was then graded
and the present buildings begun, so that
in January. 1881. they were ready for oc-
cupancy. Even then the engineers had no
rest. At the first inspection, the irspec-
tion officer, seeing that the new barracks
were so much superior 10 those OF his
own troops, the Quartet Meisic, ordered a
transfer
The incoming regiment was the famous
Cazadores l&. composed of native Nisay-
ans. officered by Spaniards. This regi-
ment. about $50 strong. occupied the -beT-
racks until the investment by our sol
diers.
Under the present regime the first pa
tients were received or May %. 1899 and
the card index shows total Of = 493 since
that time. On the FIRST commanding OH
Ger. Major W p Kendall. fell the labor
of cleaning the buildings for occupancy ana
organizing the hospital. Only one ~ho has
seen the filth can appreciate what the la
Dor was.
The present personnel Of the institu-
tion consists of four officers. four uCn-com-
mssioned officers, forty priyates. TWO hun
dred and siXt%-three patients. eight native
Tagalog latorers, and seven Chinese lauu-
drymer.
In addition to its first aud always par
amount object-the care Of the sick-an-
other important function of the hospital Is
the instruction OF the enlisted men OF the
hospital corps. This is Systematically car
ried on in four directions The whole hos
pital is regarded as a school. and each de-
partmeIt is placed in charge of a soldier
who is held responsible- for its condition.
His orders are written in the plainest Ian
guage verbal ones being avoided as much
as possible At the end Of each month an
entire change takes place, so that by means
OF a regular rotation every man becomes
acquainted with the working of the entire
system. By this means no man is allowed
TO stagnate in one place to the detriment
Of his general efficiency as a sanitary sol
der. Lectures or. more properly. informal
didactic instruction, supplemented by ques-
tions and answers are held five times
weekly.
Drill foot setting up and litter is
held FIVE times week the hour being inn
mediately after reveille. As means of in
stilIing discipline as necessary physical ex-
ercise. and especially for the formation OF
the habit of instant and soldierly obe-
dience. this portion of the instruction is
considered indispensable and no one is
excused from II unless he be upon the sick
report. Regular roll calls are also consid-
cred necessary.
An esprit du corps is encouraged in the
detachment. For this purpose the men
are asked to form an association of their
own. the squad room is furnished with
electric lights and a score of periodicals,
an interest is manifested in their baseball
club, and athletic sports. and the men are
given to understand that their detachment
is an organization well meriting pride in
its soldierly efficiency.
THE FIVE wards of the hospital are large
and are open at both sides. Each bed has
fifty-six square feet of floor space and the
windows. aggregating nearly half of the
walls. and always open, render ventilation
practically perfect. Everything possible
is done for the welfare, comfort. and rec
reation of patients. The bedding is kept
clean and well aired, numerous bamboo
lounges and armchairs are provided, read
ing matter is abundant, and the library is
well stocked with books. The hospital
being on the Luneta, patients are allowed
the freedom of that promenade from 5:45
to p. m. the various bands and the sea
breeze making the place enjoyable. Regu-
lar concerts are held in the hospital on
four days OF the week.
There are no so-called trained female
nurses connected with the hospital except
an assistant in the light diet kitchen,
neither are there civilian cooks. With a
we'll trained detachment of men, under
proper supervision, civilian aid is believed
to be not only unnecessary, but subversive
of discipline. A strong necessity exists for
junior non commissioned officers, and it is
believed that grade of corporal between
the private and the acting hospital stew
ard would solve the difficulty. The added
rank would not necessarily call for an in
crease of pay, and they could be appointed
by chief surgeons, on the recommendation
of commanding officers in about the ratio
of one corporal to seven privates.'