The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-22
TRY TO DODGE IT.
Medical Officers at Camp Bailey Issue
Tainted Meat Statement.

Brigade Headquarters. Kansas Nation
al Guard, Camp Willis J. Bailey.
To the Topeka Papers.
Having noticed in the daily papers of
Topeka statements in regard to the
fresh meat issued at Camp Bailey, we
desire to state that up to the issue of
Friday morning all meat was found to
be excellent, and in good condition.
Part of the meat issued Friday morn
ing was found to be bad, and after it
was inspected by the medical officers
that portion of the meat which was
considered bad was cut off and return
eS to the regimental comnissary and
weighed. The companies which return
ed bad meat were given credit for the
same.
We do not know of any bad meat
having been cooked and eaten. What
sickness there has been was not due, in
our judgment, to eating bad meat. The
greatest number in the hospital at any
troubles, and from injuries the result
of accidents, none of which were seri-
Gus. At the same time there were
about 16 men remaining in quarters un-
able to perform their duty out of
total number of IL hundred men in
camp, which we consider a very small
per cent, considering the change from
home to camp life, and change of en-
CHAS. S. HUFFMAN,
Brigadier General.
HENRY D. SMITH,
Surgeon First RegtmeIfS.
The above statement issued this
morning over the signatures of Lieut..
Col. Huffman, Brigadier Surgeon and
Major Henry D. Smith, surgeon of First
regiment appears with reference to the
condition of the issuance of tainted
meat. The signature of Major Dillen-
beck or a statement from him was not
able to be secured this morning when
the State Journal reporter visited the
camp. The major was reported as be-
ing up town but where, no information
was forthcoming. The story at first
printed in the State Journal was writ
ten without any colOration and a faith
full effort was made to verify all of the
context of the article as it appeared
Saturday night before any statements
of any nature were published. The re-
porter first discovered that sickness at
tributed to bad meat existed shortly
after noon on Friday. The reporter in
with members of the Sec
Ond regiment found that a number of
the men were sick and according to
their statements they thought that bad
meat was the origin of their condition.
Armed with this and the understanding
that number of the cooks had found
fault with the freshness of the meat
the reporter went to Major Dillenbeck,
surgeon of the Second regiment to sub
stantiate the story before publishing. |
On inquiry he stated that sudden per-
eentage of incbrease in the sick list had
I'd If the tainted meat had caused the |
he stated that it could be
partially attributed to that, that in
iissecretions in drinking and eating had |
llso been a partial cause. When asked |
Us to the total number whose sickness |
,ould possibly be attributed to the |
ainted meat he ventured the guess at |
%. The next question asked by the re- |
porter was how the sickness nt0 mani |
ested itself. The reply came that it |
vas in the form of bowel trouble.
rs it possible that the eating of |
ainted meat could cause bowel trou- |
Die? was the next question, by the
eporter.
1T is replied the major in no uncer-
ainty of manner. In conclusion the |
major then stated that he had then |
made an inspection of the meat at the |
ness tents and condemned a large por- |
ion of it. He then went to the refrig-
rator at the commissary's depart
nent and inspected the meat in the re-
rigerator car and found it perfect. He
urther advanced the theory that the |
,ortion of the meat near the car door
lad been exposed to rays of the sun
nd in the sudden change of tempera-
ure had become spoiled.
AS a whole the sanitary condition of
amp abbey has fbeen good.The health
f the men has been good at
his years encampment as at any pre-
ious year and even better than at FIT.
Riley. But sickness did exist Friday.
hat condition has been practically to
IL purpose entirely eliminated now and
he camp has no trouble.