New-York tribune., 1904-10-13
JAPANESE SANITATION.
DR.. Seaman Tells Ho1C It's PreUent-
ing Sickness and Death IN the Arm4.

St. Louis. Oct 12-Dr. Louis Z Seaman. OF New
York City. who a major and surgeon in the
United States Volunteers during the war with
Spain delivered an address before the Interna-
tional Congress OF Military Surgeons at its third
days session here to-day, on his recent ohserva-
tons Of japanese sanitary and surgical methods in
the with Russia Speaking first Of the Red
Cross hospitals, ne said:
We found the Military. Red Cross and University
hospitals conducted on broad. up date principles
with the latest devices tor sntseDtic procedure.
Fresh air IS appreciated AZ its full value and
liberal facilities are afforded for sunshine and
SI,nra5 ror,a D ~ 'cE otily aDoue elgve4 I
ranHeg ~ --t guSu .I anu I'D 70 4eucal SaseS had
numbers 10 other divisional hosnttaIs to maze
room for fresh ones from the front. When / ten
you that Of more than a thousand wounded re-
ceived in Toxic prior 10 July l, not had ended
fatally. and that every remaining in the wards
presented favorable prOgnOslS. you can appTeci-
there
TOO much praise cannot be bestowed upon the
medical department OF the army ard navy tor their
splendid preparatory work in this war. The Jap
al army medical corps. care OF the sick and
wounded consumes but a small uart Of their time.
health and lighting value Of the army in the field
by preventing disease BY careful supervision or the
ing the Uns-s their first and most important duty
Their capacity for detail is s0lrethirg phenomeral
or TOO tedious % weary their patience. and every
wherein the field with the scouts, or in the base
hospitals at hOne-Jhe one great prevailing idea is
the prevention OF disease. The medical officer IS
where in an American or British army he has
pIace. ne IS as nuch at the front as IN the rear
croscope and chemicals. testing and labelling wells
water When the scouts reach town. he rnrae-
diately institutes q thorough examination Of its
the 1a-sres iir-iS " No,to ~ rS s1aG ~ I ~
approaching column is warned. and no soldiers are
pl4ieIed Wnere danger exists. Microscopic blood
tests are made in all fever cases and 5acteriolog
OF every divisional headquarters.
parties and with the commissariat officers samples
the various food. fruits and vegetables sold by the
arrival of the army II the food is tainted or the
dizciniin o4 S 80 eisge - iJ; ~ s sISt y ~ 49, % ~
The medical officer is also found in camp. lectur-
ana when not TO drink, 10 batae. and even 70 ne
nails 70 prevent danger from bacteria Long before
@ the out6reak Of hostiltttes he was with the ad-
vance agents OF the army, testing provisions thai
were being collected for troops that were to fol-
low, ana as consequence or these precautions ne
IS nor now found treating thousands Of cases of
and neglected sanirarion-diseases thar nave
than ne strategies Of opposing generals or the
From the standpoint Of a humanitarian and
teItgbt 10 visit NE great zsries of hGspi1aIs nom
overt0wIng with wounded. suffering soidiers-the
legitimate victims Of war their faces full OF health
and hope. despite their fearful wounds IN the long
hard campaign % I'VE OF SIX months in Man
churia, their chief desire TO know how soon they
could rel0n their comrades. and 20 contrast them
In memory. with the vivid pictures % the poor
wan er8ciared and almost hopeless faces that
crowded the wards OF our hospitals II cuba ana
Porto Rico I'm Tampa, Chattanooga. and CaD1p
Alger and NCntaUk Point in tS9S-and in the
Philippine in la99 and 19oo-the innocent. uuwound-
cd. and Wegitimate victims Of another conflict
which, in comparison with the one now Wagtng,
would be considered no more than a skjrUish
among oUtposts And vet should occasion arise
for the gathering OF another army Of cSt.atJ next
summer, what evidence is submitted 70 prove that
tho ntable of 1StS with all their ualSe-
atiCg details. would not be repeated
Gentlemen. il is time FOR this association OF
military and naval surgeons TO voice its sen-i-
meEts in uncertain roJes-to demand a1ot he-
reorganization OF our army IN which that OraDcn
Of its service that gTapples with the foe that
causes So 1er Of the mortality shall have
equal ror1-nitou with other branches, which COM
hiued fElt the enemy who destroys bur - per
cent. whereby the government OF the United states
snail give 20 its guardians Tho rights % which.
as citizens u the republic, they are Justly en-
titled. II cannot improve on tlis system. then
had better meekIy FOLLOW jt,