The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-12-03
HEALTH OF SOLDIERS
FINE, REPORTS SHOW
Me i:t..! t".p~ preparedness Ec>pon-
sin. to- ~p:"ndid Condition Of
:: 5t---.Jca,!iy Typnoid Eliminated.

=
the statement that there is not Il
Single case OF typhoiIl OF paratyphoid
a.ucl2 the thousands of American
soldiers nov IN France.
I,ppUrlS for = similar period from
the various camps and environments,
where more than a million men have
been in training in The United States
Iur lyso or more months, revealed on
ly seven eases OF typhoid and one
ease OF paratypEoid.
The official medical records of the
Spanish-Amtricdn War disclose that
every regiment in the United States
service in 1898 developed typhoid
fever"
More than ninety per cent. Of the
volunteer regiments assembled in the
Spanish-American War de,eioped ty-
phoid fever. these same records show,
within eight weeks after being gath
cred in the Stale encampmCnts.
Typhoid lever not only appeared
in every regiment in the service in
1898. but it became epidemic, both
in the small encampmentS OF not
more than one regiment. and in the
larger ones consisting OF more than
one corps. Typhoid fever became
epidemic N camps then located in
The Northern a. wei! as those located
in the Southern States.
The statement has been frequent
IL and truthfuIly made both in and
cut of Congress thai more men died
from disease during the few months
uf The Spanish-Amcrican War and
the subsequent lighting in the Phil
iippinea than We're killed by enemy
bullets More than so per cent. OF
the total deaths resulted from ty-
phoid.
During the nineteen years that
have interviewed since our litlIe brush
with Spain, it is true, medical science
has made great progress. 1t IS equ-
ally true despite the charges Of
unpreparedness that the medical
corps of the army as now constit!
ted. under the leadership OF Surgeon
General GOr%aS. was ready to safe
guard The heal.h OF the soldiers on
the day President Wilson issued the
hrs; call for volunteers.
Speaking Il few weeks ago at
Liberty Loan meeting in Cleveland,
Secretary Of Wdr Baker paid his re
spects to certain critics of the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION : methods Of preparing
lOI lIlS II cat NSt'N llitti 'pilil OllIS II
in the world war.
L suppose" he said that the
world would MOI continue TO exist if
there We're not some doubling
Thomdses-if there were not some
misguided peOple who criticised some
little fault or another-drumstic
orators about hroomstick prepare
ton and that sort of thing.
1t h.r NnIl
can rest in the assurance that Ameri-
ca has done herself worthy in her
preparations and our boys are not go
ing to want in the supply of arms
and ammunition and protecting de-
vices against the articles of our adj
versary. They are flowing out in
adequate quantity from our work
shops.
And in addition to that-and 1
like more to tell you this than any
thing else-there is going to be a
better army than we have ever had
in this. that from the first day that
a soldier was called, it was determin-
ed that the environment in which he
is trained shall be healthful. slim
ulating and wholesome environQe9A!
There are things that soldie(sl
can bring home that are worse than
wounds. We are sending into this
contest Americans of culture and
high ideals-worthy of the cause
they are going to defend. And when
they come out of it, they will be
stimulated and strengthened SO far
as their minds and bodies are con-
cerned-heroes in the highest sense
of the word"
Elimination Of typhoid from the
camps is only enc of the accom-
plishments OF the trained experts that
have been entrusted with the care of
the soldiers health. Every form of
communicable disease is receiving
their constant attention.
1t would take volume TO ade-
quately tell all that has been and is
BENG done to Feep the soldiers we'll
and strong. \ sentence only, now
ever, is needed to reveal the secret OF
success. Vaccination, incubation
and sanitation have done it.
Science developed the serum that
prevents the deadly typhoid from
claiming victims in the camps. Hy
giene, or to state it in simpler Ian |
guage, scrupulous cleanliness, en-
forced by rigid inspection. makes |
doubly certain the effectiveness of
the medical preventatives.
This inspection not only insures |
clean bodies, properly ventilated bar
racks, tents or billets. but eradicates |
all diSease-carriers. such as flies, |
which if left unmOleSted would con-
taminate foodstuffs.
The embaimed beef scandal of 1898 |
VIII not be repeated if eternal vigi- |
lance can prevent IL. Camp pollu- |
ton. according TO one Authority, !
he greatest sanitary sin committed |
- Jn2 troops in 1898. From it was |
Traced much, if not all, of the evils !
mat wrecked the constitutions OF |
.-tro!. & men.
The efficiency OF the present Amer |
lean army medical service was dem |
JnS;rated, as we'll as tested, on the |
Mexican border last year. More men |
81. ere sent there than the United |
States had modified since 1865. ALL
though they Were concentrated in a |
region, as one writer recently obser- |
we'd where smallpox usually exists, |
where typhuS is Il continual menace, |
where yellow fever in years past has |
set up its shotgun guarantees. and |
where typhoid and paratyphoid are
always known, the outing for most of |
the men was as beneficial as if they |
had been visiting a health-resort."
Perfect sanitation is the eXplana-
ton given by the medical officers for
this excellent record and perfect |
sanitation is being maintained in all
The camps both in the United States
and France to insure equally good |
results in the present mobilization.
Robert Forrest Wilson, in a recent |
ISSUE OF Munseys Magazine, enume-
rated a few OF the details of camp |
regulations which show why there
need be no fear of a repetition of
the disgrace Of 1898"
These regulations, which every Of
icer must strictly enforce or run the
.isk of cOurt-martial and summary
dismissal, are:
No water can be used for drink
ing purposes until ii has been ana
wed and pronounced fit by medi-
II L,