The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12
Another Lesson From Japan.

~AJOR LOUIS L. SEAMAN says in the Review
l. l. Of Reviews, that statistics show that,
rule 80 per cent of the mortality of any army in
active service is due to disease and 20 per to
bullets. For example, in the war. between Russia and
Turkey $4,000 died of disease and 10000 in battle
or as the result of wounds received in battle Often
the disparity is greater In the Crimean
the allies lost $4,000 the first six months by disease
and only 1900 in battle. In the French expedition in
Madagascar in 1894 disease killed 1000 men, while
only. Twenty-Five died from bullets The conditions
in Madagascar may be regarded peculiar, but it
the business of the French hospital and medical service
to guard against those conditions In with
Spain lost 293 men in battle the result of
wounds received in battle in a six weeks campaign,
and during the same time 1855 died from disease.
But note the very different results in the Japanese
Russian from February, 1904 to May, 1905. Dur
ing that period 1892 killed the field,
1882 per cent of the entire army. The wounded
bered 1455 2427 per cent of the entire army, but
of this $4,000 only 1854 died Of their wounds,
50 per cent The deaths from sickness and disease,
including contagious diseases II 1892 per cent
of the army So it appears that counting deaths from
wounds and those killed in battle the total fatalities
1885, per cent, while the deaths from sick
were II, 1892, or per cent. .'-~
He accounts for this remarkable result three
grounds First, preparation. The Jap knew for long
while before the commenced that he going to
fight and he began to make careful preparations study
ing the hospital service of other countries and their
systems OF sanitation seeking to avail himself OF every
protection known to science and experience for the life
of the soldier. The hospital accommodations were
made adequate that after the battle of Mukden
when $4,000 wounded men were sent home for treat
ment the military hospitals ready to take care of
them The second assigned is the SIMPLE whole
some easily dgestible and nourishng ration furnished
to the soldier third given is brilliant medical
and surgical service.
Japan knew before the commenced that she
inviting contest with nation that had men
available for military service than any other in the
world; there was practically NO end to the number of
Russia could pour into the field if the necessity
Japan, the other hand limited in population
well other resources compelled to take every
precaution to the fighting strength of her
army and make every mans service count for
much as possible. She could not afford to let her
soldiers die of disease that from the practical
standpoint to say nothing of the humanitarian, Japan
compelled to create the best possible conditions in
the camp, in the field and in the hospital affecting
the health and life of her soldiery.
But surely what Japan has done so we'll will not be
lightly regarded by any progressive government Ger
tainly we shall see much consideration shown
hereafter to the medical and surgical department and
due recognition in rank and emoluments given to the
men to whose hands committed the health and
efficiency Of the fighting