New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-27
DISPUTES MAJOR SEAMAN.
Nary Surgeon Doubts Statistics of
japanese Medical SerUice.

Detroit, Sept. 26.-An attack by DR.. Charles F.
Stokes surgeon in the United States navy. on
statements made by Major Louis l. Seaman, of
New-York. in contrasting the results obtained in
the Russo-Japanese War by japanese medical off,
GERS with the medical history Of the Spanish-Aner-
lean War and the Philippine Instruction was the
feature yesterday, the opening day OF the four
tenth convention of the Association OF Military
Surgeons OF the United States. DR.. Stokes chal-
Ienged the accuracy of many Of Major Seaman s
statements and statistics.
DR.. Stokes quoted DR.. Seaman as saying that for
campaign lasting six weeks in the SpanIsh-Arner
lean War the proportional battle casualties 10 those
of disease were l to H. He then quoted the report
Of the Secretary Of War for 1885, showing that this
proportion l to ~
Mr.. Seaman makes the proportion OF battle
casualties in the Civil War 1 to o. continued DR..
Stokes. while the proportion, as shown by the
Medical and Surgical History Of the Rebellion. was
l to q
The speaker then quoted an alleged statement by
Dr.. Seaman that in General Oku's army only 30
out of 5.6U9 men sent home had died. and said:
He must have been in error in this. Forty cases
of sudden death at the front occurred, but all the
serious We're transferred at once to the base
hospitals in the rear OF these 5Oe9 cases there
tality rate almost high that Of typhoid fever.
was s Sex list Of 5 IN seven " months which
gives an annual mortality rate of $40 thousand
armies under favorable conditions.
DR.. Stokes then quoted DR.. Seaman as saying
before the Military AfniEs Committee of the House
OF Representatives that beri-beri is almost IN
known in the japanese army. and said
On the contrary. it is known that the First Army
had in four months sos Of beri-bert and the
Second Army 5.070 cases in seven months. and II
is said that the losses the effective forces OF
Nog!s army before Port Arthur were $4,000 from
beri-beri alone.
Papers were also read by Major G. NJ Coates, OF
the Pennsylvania National Guard; Lieutenant Col
onel Alexandra Ross. Of the Mexican army. and
Lieutenant W. w. Reno United States Army
DELEGATES present represented the armies or
navies Of Japan. China, Mexico. Great Britain
Canada. Guatemala. France and the United States.
and the National Guard of many Of the States IN
this country. Surgeon General Walter Wyman OF
the Marine Hospita, service. president Of the as
ISOLATION. was unable to be present and Colonel
A NJ Briggs Of Buffalo, the vice-president. prs
sented his report
A report from the legislation committee lnooTseu
the army bill which provides for increasing the
number Of medical officers in the army ane the es-
Enlistment OF a medical reserve -
Major Jefferson Randolph hean I: . a. oL
Seaman prize of $500 offered for the best essay on
THE Prevention Of Disease in The army anu the
Rest Method Of Accomplishing That Result
Major Kean's paper made a plea IoT the Fe-es55
tabishment of the canteen at army posts, aha
showed bv statistics that since the aboHshlng OF
patton have Increased among the soldiers or tne
regular army The reason for this, he sad IS Lne
low PAGES which sprung up around army poSts'
where soldiers drink to excess.