Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-19
SOLDIERS WITHOUT CLOTHING
Khaki Being Worn by Men in
Training When Heavy APP
parel Is Needed.
HOSPITALS ARE NOT READY
Water, Plumbing and Sewage
Connections Have Not
Been Made, Is Report.

WASHINGTON. Dec.a 1s.-1nsuffi-
cient clothing. overcrowdng and bad
sanitary conditions are held largely
responsible for disease epldemics at
Camp Bowie, Texas Camp Funston.
Kan; Camp Doniphan. Okla. and
Camp SEWER, S. c.. by Surgeon General
Gorgas IN reports to Secretary Baker,
made public today as the result of his
personal inspection of the camps.
with the exception of Funston none
! of the camp hospitals have been COM
: pleted General Gorgas says and this
Is hauG.cappng the medical officers in
treating patients.
tic recommends the rushing of this
work. particularly the installation OF
necessary plumbing.
General Gorgas points out that
nearly AL the disease is brought to the
camps by incoming men and recon-
mends the establishment OF observa-
tion camps for all newcomers. To aid
sanitary conditions he recommends
/ that fifty square feet of floor space
/ bc furnished for each man at all
camps. Ia some cases now only twenty
feet Is provided.
Lack or Clothlng.
S,cis to remedy existing unfavor-
, able conditions have been taken by
division commanders as far as pcs
sihle. the reports say, while winter
clothing IS being supplied as rapidly
: as received.
Lack &c warin garments during the
cold weather Of tho late fan Is believed
by General Gorgas 60 have contributed
largely 10 the spread Of pneumonia.
Al camp Bowie, where the Thirty
sixth guard division is training. Gem
eral Gorgas reported III deaths during
the past month from pneumonia out OF
/ 900 cases admitted to tho hospital.
( About 1000 cases OF measles have de-
/ |eloped In the same length OF time.
There H. a great deal Of uneasiness
and criticism among the people with
| regard TO conditions here, which are
worse from the sanitary point of view
! than in any OF the camps ] have Wis.,
itec,' General Gorgas says
THE base hospital is unfinished,
without water plumbing or sewerage
connections. | recommend that tele-
graphic Instructions be sent to the di-
vision commander at once to put in
plumbing, water and sewer connec-
uons and electric cookers In all the
wards.
II think the recommenda tons [
have made will tend TO correct the ex-
listing sanitary errors, but | can not
into effect at once. The camp sites
and surroundings az all that can be
desired. the troops and general con-
ditlOns are good with the exception
Of such conditions as relate to the
epidemic diseases at present prevail
ing"
Forty-TlrCc Deaths.
At Camp Funston, In the S9th ma
tional army division. there have been
I nil
cases, and 22 from mening.ti It's with 20
cases.
This indicates the most serious
condition as far as infection from
meningitis and pneumonia Is con
cerned," General Gorgas said. LAS
emphasizing the situation, | call at
tention to the fact that there had been
40 deaths from all causes when the
normal death rate OF such command
should be about 12."
The general reports that among the
$1,000 drafted men injected into the
captonmcnt I'm October, were many
meningitis carriers, this part of the
country being known. he says. 10 all
health officers as having been for
several years the principal epidemic
center in the civil population for men
ingitis.
General Gorgas recommends ohser-
walton camps, tho relieving Of over
crowded conditions, the oilng OF neat
by roads to keep down tho dust and
the erection and painting of ambI
lance sheds Ia obviate the present
difficulties found in getting the motor
ambuauces started during the cold
weather, because of the freezing of
tho water in the radiators.
Sanitary conditions at Camp Sewer.
I'm tho Thirteenth guard division. are
described by General GOrCas as Sc
rious. Sixty men have died of pneu
monia in the past month aud the camp
has been exposed to general epl-
demic OF measles, there having been
about two thousand cases during the
month. There have been 20 cases Of
, pneumonia and / ; cases of meningitis.
The basic cause OF unsanltary con-
dtlors. the reports continue, is over
crowding as the result Of shortage Of
! tcntage.
From II to i2 men had TO ne put
in each tent with about twenty square
CONTINUED on PAGE FIVE.