The Washington times., 1901-10-12
HOSPITAL WORK.
Interesting Details of The Surgeon
Generals Annual Report.
General Health of the Enlisted Men
acknowledgements of Soldiers
Killed or Incnpacitated by Dis
ease-HedicnI Museum Specimens.

Records of much general interest are
contained in the annual report of George
NJ. Sternberg, the Surgeon General OF the
United States Army, addressed to the
Secretary of War and made public yes
terday. The report says. in part:
''All the medical officers of the volun-
teers, staff and regimental, appointed un-
der previous acts of Congress were mus
tered out of service June 80. 1901. Under
the act approved February 2. 1891, there
We're appointed for service in the Division
of the Philippines 80 surgeons with the
rank of major and $50 assistant surgeons
with the rank of captain. One major and
surgeon and two first lieutenants and as
sistant surgeons died during the year.
There were in service June 80. 1900. 462
contract surgeons. During the year ended
June 30, 1901, contracts were made with
265 physicians; 333 contracts were an
nulled. and terminated by death, leaving
in service June 80. 1901. 5s7 under contract
OF this number JOG were on duty in the
United States, II on transports. II In Cuba,
and go in the Philippines
THE corps of 30 contract dental sur
geons authorized by the act approved Feb
ruary 2. 1901, Is in progress of formation
On June 60 1901, Il dental surgeons who
had passed the examining board were
signed. to the Department of Cuba. II
to the Division of the Philippines, and
to posts in the United States
THE total number of men examined for
enlistment in the regular army during the
year 1900. was 1896. The ratio of accept
ed men was considerably smaller than
during the years Immediately preceding.
In 1897, a year of peace. the ratio was
702.19 out of every thousand examined. In
1895 during the active recruiting TO in
crease the numerical strength of the
army the. accepted men numbered 770-47
per thousand examined, but in 1899 the
ratio decreased to 6S1.24 and during the
past year to 56316. showing evidently that
greater care is exercised in the selection
of men for the service.
THE health of the army must be re-
garded as having been unusually good
during the calendar year 1900; but to give
a proper valuation to this statement the
statistics of our army from the time of
the civil war must be taken into consid-
Grafton. For many years after that war
the admissions to sick report, discharges
for disability and deaths were somewhat
similar 10 those reported during the past
year. but then they were the result OF
service In the garrisonS of the United
States while now they result from what
practically has been war service in the
Philippine Islands Sanitary improve
ments in the condition of the soldier
gradually lessened the rates year after
year subsequent to the civil war among
the troops in the United States, until in
1894 the admission rate from all causes
fell to 1859 - per thousand of strength.
The lowest admission rate for disease
was S30. 10 in the year 1896.
The lowest death rate from all causes
was 5l per thousand of strength, 314
having been the rate for disease. both of
which were recorded in the year 1877, the
year preceding the great change IN tne
sanitary environment OF the soldier Ghich
resIlted from the outbreak OF the Span
ish-American war. Following that out
break we had heavy rates of sickness
and mortality due TO the exposures OF
active service In Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the Philippine Islands. For short time
these rates were in excess of those of the
civil war when at their worst, but the
sanitary knowledge of the present time
pIIr 10 energetic practical use speedily
caused a cessation of these excessive war
rates, leaving the ratios still as high as
those which prevailed in the garrisons OF
the United States for number OF years
after the close of the civil war.
I'm the Philippine Islands, with mean
strength of 66 SS2 the admission rate was
2621. SO, as compared win ZaS2e- IN tGe
previous year this increase being mainly
due To disease among the volunteers, the
ratio for which rose from lS95Zl TO z'tl.4S
The regulars, on the other hand showed /
a
sion FOR disease which fell from 2404.l0 to
2lg7 73 Two-thirds of the admissions Tor
disease were caused by malaral tevers
and diarrheal diseases. The deaths from
all causes amounted to 2S.T5 per 1000 of
strength. as compared with 3O.5S in the
previous year. Disease occasioned 2O26
deaths the principal cause of the fatau-
tics being dysentery. which. with other
intestinal diseases, gave a rate of y.Vo.
The rate from injury amounted to SD
THE death rate in China was large,
i77G per 1000 Of strength go from us
ease and 2L14 from injury
From the close of the calendar year
1900 to the latest reports. the hedlth OF /
the troops in the Phlllppln'S 4dS DeS'i
steadily improving . .-,,,, l.,
THE health of the troops serving ~
C,,1-s, was excellent during the year with |
a rrean strength of $3.50. the admission |
rate was 1890, as compared with 2,49.4 |
in Tygg the rate for disease having been
l5SG 1g as compared with 25S19S The |
death rate from all causes was 9-lS, as |
renee OF yellow fever the death rate |
from diseases in this command would |
have been only i.I2 per l,O01 of strength. |
One hundred and forty-four cases We're |
reported of which ~ were fatal, giving /
a death rate of 3.6S per 1.00o of strength. |
Since the close of the calendar year the
health of the troops has continued good
During the calendar year 1900. 81 men
were killed by gunshot, 1u9 In action. ana
p by accident: 80 of the deaths were sui |
cidal and p homicidal. Besides the 81 |
killed by gunshot LIB cases were re,
ceived In the hospitals for treatment; AZ |
were incurred in action, 3l5 not in action |
but in line of duty. 81 not in line OF duty |
vhtta 10 upre suicidal and Z hOmieidal.