The National tribune., 1908-10-15

From this it will be seen that there
is steadily increasing demand for adj
mission from this class of patients, that
during the crowded portion Of the past
seasou their number was so per cent
higher than the previous maximum,
and that during August, when the auT1.
Der Of patients is at the lowest ebE Of
the year, their number in 1e per cent
higher than the previous low month
maximum.
Until recently this Institution has
been little known amcng veterans, but
this condition is rapidly changing. Each
old soldier returning from the hospital
to his home becomes center of dis
semination Of information concerning
Hot Springs, and the facilities for treat
ment offered by the GovernTnenf to ex-
soldiers and ex-saiiors, and before many
months several other veterans from the
same neighborhood apply for admis-
sion. They are surprised to find that
they can obtain board, Lodging, baths.
medicines, nursing and the professional
services of medical officers Of the Army
for 40 cents per day. To most of them
this is cheaper than staying at home.
| fng rapidly overtaRen by the infafmities
OF age, and each year will find q reia-
lively larger proportion OF them in need
| of hospital treatment
The number of soldiers of the Span
Iish-American War who come to the
hospital as patients is also constantly
increasing. 1T seems probable when
the number of civil war patients t1imin-
ishes it will be fully compensated by
the increased admissions from those
who have served in the Spanish-Ameri-
can and later campaigns
This last Winter the hospital was full
and overflowing, so that On several oc-
casfOns veteran patients arriving from
the North were obliged to wait several
days Tor vacancies.
The hospital has 122 beds. OF these
IA are in private rooms and intended
for sick officers and 1913 are in four
wards One ward is occupied by sol
diers and sailors now in the service of
the United States and the other three
wards by veterans.
Prospect Of an Increase.
There is every indication that the in
crease in veteran applicants win con-
time even more rapidly than IN the
past. Next Winter many such apph-
cants must be turned away.
II Congress sees nt to listen to the
appeals Of these veterans and should
grant the appropriation to erect addi-
tionaI buildings, they can be readily
cared for with marked benefit to their
to his home with Increased vfgor and
happiness.
At the same time the War Depart
ment would acquire possession of a
fully equipped general hospital, central
iy located particularly in the event OF
| the Mississippi waterway improvement)
| and of sufficient size to be of consider
able value as reser-e hospital in time
of war.
| The veteran wards contain many
cases suitable for prostatectomy and
the radical cure Of hernia, and not in
frequently malignant growths are found
the condition of whose possessorS could
/ be greatly ameiiorated by operation.
| With a little encouragement surgi-
] cal clinic could be developed among
| the patients OF 390-bed hospital that
| would keep two medical officers busy
! continuously.
| The great advantage which the Army
| would derive from proper enlarge
ment of this hospital consists in its thus
obtaining a weil-equipped. centrally To-
| Gated, healthfully situated reserve hos
| pital for the use of the sick and wound
ed in time of war.
! The hospital sheald be increased to
1 800 beds. Immediately across the street
! is the Eastman Hotel, a five-story brick
4 structure, well built and furnished. II
1 is open for only six weeks Ipart of Feb
ruary and March) each year. The resi-
| of the year it is closed. 1t accomme-
dates $50 guests. In case of war ii
/ could be leased by the Government and
| used as an annex to the hospital. from
| which 1t could be administered with
ease. This would give reserve hospi-
| tai of over 1000 beds.
A Wise Provision.
Provision for such institutions Is
l along the same line as laying m field
supplies and reserves of hospital equip
l ment
Memory is still fresh Of the difficulty
in caring for the sick and wounded In
| 1888, when many were sent to civil
1 hospitals and others furloughed and
] turned adrift because of lack of hospi-
tai accommodations.
| II the Army can secure the benefit of
owning and controlling a S00-bed gen.
eral hospital, which can be expanded
at viii iate a l,000-bed reserve hospi-
tai, it would seem well worthy of con-
fsideration.
If the Grand Army of the Republic
takes this UP at the coming National
Encampment, and pushes it as q matter
of vital Importance to their rapidly in
creasing number Of sick and suffering
members, it is highly probable that they
can prevail upon Congress to pass a
special appropriation to enlarge this
hospital for their benefit.
l. A resolution was recently passed at