The Washington herald., 1914-11-22
New Health Record.

Never in the history Of the army have
the health conditions OF Uncle Sans
fighting forces been as good as during
last year, according TO the first annual
report Of Surg. Gen. w. c. Gorgas, $ust
submitted.
The death rate was raised, the report
shows, but this was due TO the accident
at Burrows Creek, Miss, October 19, 1915,
in which seventeen OF the coast artillery
were killed while travelling. The grip OF
the army surgeons on the diseases that
have caused the greatest death rate in
the army is Tightening, according TO the
Surgeon General
The non-effective rate for the United
States army during 1913 was 2397. the
lowest rate recorded for the land forces
Of the country. The non-effective rate
for disease only for the troops in the
United States was 1851. The best previ-
Gus rate of the army was 25.23, in 1896.
This rate is highest in the Philippines,
5.H. and lowest in Alaska, 913
The statistics of the army medical corps
are encouraging. They show that ty-
phoid fever. the bane of the soldier for
years, has almost been stamped out; that
alcoholism is on the wane, and that in
spite Of the large number of American
soldiers stationed in the tropics, the rate
for malaria was lower last year than II
has been since 1898. the year in which the
troops of this country were first perman-
emily stationed in the tropics.
In his report the Surgeon General pays
special attention to the splendid hygienic
conditions maintained now in the army
camp.
The one thing Gen. Gorgas does not find
encouraging in the present situation is
the hospital service. He points to the
lack OF mobile hospital units as being a
glaring defect in the army's organization.
He says:
Our present personnel permits only
one-half of the regular army in the field
to be served by the sanitary units pre-
scribed by field service regulations. In
view OF the great battle losses to be eX-
pected in modern wars, it is a serious
responsibility to rely upon improyised
units that must serve at the front"
Gen. Gorgas suggests the reorganization
of the hospital corps and the adoption of
a plan for keeping army medical officers
up to the times in their profession. OF
the two institutions Of this branch of the
service in Washington. the Surgeon Cen
eral says:
THE Army Medical School occupies q
rented building in the city of Washing
ton, at a rental of $3.50 per annum. AS
It is one OF the permanent service
schools. it would be much more eco
nOmical, as We'll as more ntting ana con-
venient, for it to be housed in buildings
erected by the government. 1t is pro-
posed to locate these on the tract of land
occupied by the Walter Reed General
Hospital, so that the students may have
the clinical advantages and the instruc-
ton in administration afforded by the
hospital, and that the hospital may en-
joy the laboratory conveniences of the
school. These buildings are estimated to
cost S35O.O0O.
The Walter Reed General Hospital Is
one of four general hospitals. and is To-
Gated in the District of Columbia. 1t is
one of the most important, and is used
for the treatment of officers retired Of
ficers patients from Washington Bar
racks, enlisted men, special cases, obser-
walton of patients under consideration for
discharge on account of disability, and
for the education Of students attending
the Army Medical School. New buildings
and additions have been erected from
time to time. A new one-story ward has
lately been added to the west end of this
hospital. and a similar ward Is now be-
ing added to the east end. These two
ward wings require additional stories on
each to complete them The additional
room Is necessary. and these improve
ments are estimated to cost $4,000"