The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-08
HEALTH OF BATANGAs.
Major POwelPs Report Concerning
Sanitary Conditions There.

Maj j. L. Powell. chief surgeon OF the
First division of the Eighth Army Corps,
| has reported to Surgeon General Stern
berg regarding the sanitary condition in
the province OF Batangas, Philippine
Islands. He visited that country on the
hospital ship Relief. and went to Nasugdu
on the coast. He found there battalion
Of the Twentyeighth Infantry encampei
under the most unfavorable circumstances.
The command was encamped on a low,
fiat. insalubricus plateau, about mile
from the beach and every precaution taken
to prevent the Introduction of infectious
diseases. The water for drinking and cook
ing purposes had upavoidably TO be taken
from wells sunk to the depth of about fif-
teen feet. Strict orders We're in force rela-
tive TO its being boiled, and morning and
evening thorough inspection made of
every canteen, each man being required to
fill his own and to drink water from no
other source. The men were quartered In
tents.
Other companies of the Twenty eighth
Infantry were camped at Taal. There the
hospital was located in a good building
well adapted TO the purpose. There were
fifteen cases in the hospital, but none seri-
Gus. Major Powell commends the admin
istration of this hospital, which is in
charge of Assistant Surgeon Peed.
Visits of inspection were successfully
made to Batangas. San Jose, Lipa. SantO
Tomas. and Calamba. where detachments
Of the Thirty eighth and Thirty ninth Vol
unteer Infantry are stationed. The camp
at Batangas is about three-quarters of a
mile from the beach. and is in a low. fiat,
sandy. and hot place. but con-
tains an admirable bL ling for
a hospital. Major Glennan. regi
mental surgeon, is in charge. and accord
ing to the report is doing excellent work.
AT San Jose a convent is utilized as
hospital. with Assistant Surgeon Titz-
simmons in charge. The hospital at Lipa
is in fine building. and is in charge of
Captain Dewey. The patients were COM
Portable, properly fed. and had a general
air of contentment. The appointments of
the hospital at Santo Tomas did not meet
the approval of Major Powell. He says
the patients were distributed in small and
contracted buildings, which did not have
that neat. inviting appearance which IS
characteristic of a wel-crdered hospital,
and which was so noticeable feature
at Taal. Batangas, and Lipa. There were
forty-one cases in the hospital. Major
Philip G. Wales, surgeon Thirty-ninth In
fantry, is in charge In conversation with
the commanding officer" says Major
Powell. Il ascertained that the convent
now occupied by him and his staff. and in
use for other purposes, was to be va
Gated and turned over to the surgeon for
the sick and wounded. 1t is rather sur
prising that this was not done in the
first instance"
The division hospital at Calamba was re-
ported to be in admirable shape. and COM
pared favorably with any hospital in Ma
Mia Two converts SO close together as
to practically make one building have
been thoroughly cleaned up and prepared
for the accommodation of about 200 pa
tients. There are at present, however,
not more than seventy cases under treat
ment. Major Penrose. brigade surgeon.
is in charge. and has well equipped staff
of assistants ard nurses. Major Powell
concludes his report with the statement
that with the proper stock of medical sup
plies the hospitals visited by him will
be equal to any demands that are likely
to be made upon them.