New-York tribune., 1916-07-25
They Are Forced to Work
with Equipment of
BareSt Sort.
GAY COLORED "POP"
STRIKES MEN LOW
Criticism of Hospital Work Is
Found To Be Wholly
UnWarranted.
BY ROBERT Fl. ROHDE.

Headquarters 9Th Field Division
U. S. A.. McAllen, Tex, July 24.-Prob
ably none of the criticisms Of the New
York guardsmen and their camps
which have been drifting back here
from time to time have had so little
justification as those directed against
the field hospitals.
With equipment Of the barest sort,
designed for quick setting up, quick
packing and for use when men are
wounded in battle rather than fallen
sick in camp, the hospitals have under
taken since their arrival to minister
to guardsmen afflicted with all sorts of
ailments.
This work. which properly is the por-
tion of a post hospital. fitted with OPP
Grating rooms and with complete medi-
cal and surgical paraphernslia, has
been done by the field hospital compa-
nies in a manner certainly above lay
reproach.
Cots Out of Place. &.
1t is true enough that there have
been no cots for the sick and that the
floors of the hospital tents are earthen.
Cots and board floors are not part OF
the regulation equipment. In the work
for which field hospitals are intended
such things have no place. for the
field" part of the name means battle
field.
Theoretically the field hospitals are
not called into service until the shoot
ing starts. Then they are supposed to
establish themselves three or four
miles to the rear-far enough to be re-
moved from the zone of fre-and to
care for the wounded until it is pos
sible to send them over the line OF
communication. So the work the hos
pitals have been doing and it has been
well done-really has been out OF their
province.
One hundred and twenty men a day
on the average have been treated IN the
field hospitals. The majority OF them
have had minor illnesses brought on
by too free indulgence in pop, colorco
with the gayest and most unwholesome
of analine dyes.
Pop Traced to Source.
Tracing this pop to the point OF
manufacture, Lieutenant Colonel Will
lam s. Terriberry and his sanitation
squad found themselves IN an exceed
inplv dirty room in Mexican Town
Clouds of flies buzzed over rubbish
heaps and the vats had not beer
cleaned out for many months. A
threat TO close the plant caused
great change in its appearance, and
henceforth there will be fewer stomach
aches among its by-products.
A large number OF the criticisms un-
doubtedly come from persons VINO
have been caught playing SICK TO es,
cane unpleasant duties and ordered
back to their companies. Sleeping on
the ground probably has not held back
the recovery of any of the patients, foI
10 date. despite the frequent rains, the
,ospital tents have not been Hooded.
Two cases which were cited IN
criticism published in a Philadelphia
paper were brought this afternoon to
the attention of Colonel Terrlberry
One was that of Clinton Healy, pri-
vate in the 23d Infantry, who died IN
the base hospital at San Antonio. An
ANONYMOUS correspondent informed the
newspaper that the surgeons had be-
lieyed Healy to be suffering from notn-
ing more serious than homeslckness
and had consequently neglected MIN.
Died of AOrtitis.
"The report of the postmorten which
came hack from San Antonio" com
mented Colonel Terriberry, made me
sider for a time the advisability OF
preferring charges against the medical
officer who passed for service IN the
guard Healy was suffering from
tuberculosis and aortitis. 1t was prop
ably the latter which caused his death
although the condition was not discov'
cred in the short time we had to dag
nose the case"
Healv got the best of care and was
sert on to the base hospital as soon as
arrangements could be made.
The second case was that OF mar
named Cahill, who, it was reported, mao
been advised to "let nature take Its
course" when he caught cold. AS re
suit according TO the Philadelphia
story. Cahills case developed into
pneumonia and he was said to be dying
A search of the medical records failed
to reveal any one named Cahlll.
Plan $4,000 Post Hospital.
Plans have already been drawn ane
appropriations made for $4,000 pos
hospital to be erected in McAllen.
shouldn't that have been done be
fore ?" Colonel Terriberry was asked.
"When we came down here" he re
plied. "it was intended that the troops
90 right into Mexico. On that assump
ton our plans were laid. AS soon a.
we saw we were to remain in camp W.
did our best to make the field hospita
fill the gap. Although they are not I
regular part of our equipment, we haV'
been trying to get cots. and forty-fou
of them will be here from New Or
leans tomorrow. None could be go
any nearer"
Even officers of the regular arm.
concede that the death rate has beef
surprisingly low. -.
A statement which hasn't made tn
Glory hungry guardsmen any more con
tented was issued this afternoon b,
General Organ.
"INis division is concentrated here,
il was explained in the order, for tn
purpose of completing its organization
eouipment and supplies, and for techni
cal training
Not word about tghtlng!