The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-22
ARMY CAMPS UhSANlTARY.
GEN. GORGAS GIVES REASONS
FOR DISEASE IN CAMPS.
Surgeon General of Army Finds That
EpidemicS Have Been Caused by
OvcrcrOWding. Insufficient Clothing
and Bad Sanitary Conditions
Camp Sewer Visited.


tary conditions are held largely re-
sronsible for disease epidemics at |
Camp Bowie, Texas; Camp Funston, |
Kansas; Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma,
and Camp SEWER, South Carolina by
Surgeon General Gorgas in reports
10 Secretary Baker made public today
as the result of his personal inspec-
ton of the camps.
With the exception of Funston none
OF the camp base hospitals have been
completed, General Gorgas says, and
this is handicapping the medical Of
ficers in treating patients. He recon-
mends the rushing this work, particu-
larly the installation of the necessary
plumbing.
Conditions at Camp Sewer, Green
Vile, S. c., whore former National
Guard organizations from Tennessee
and North Carolina and South Caro-
lima, are in training are shown in the
following letter. dated November 29,
| last
Sanitary conditions here are seri-
Gus. Sixty men have died of pneu-
monia in the past monh. The camp
had been exposed to n general cpl
demic Of measles, about 1000 cases
having occurred within the last
month During the same period they
have had 175 cases of pneumonia
and Is cases of meningitis. The new
conscripts Of this command are men
who are non-immune to measles They
come from the neighboring Southern
States whore population is scarce and
therefore have not had measles in
childhood. Always with measles, a
certain number of cases of pneumon-
ia occur. The mortality of pneumon-
10 from any cause is always high.
THE basic unsanitary condition,
however in my opinion, is over
crowding. In the past in this camp.
the division commander has had to
put II and II men in a tent, due to
the shortage Of tentage. This would
give about 20 square feet of space to
each man. At present he has to put
nine men in a tent, which gives about
2S square feet to the man. I urge
that the division commander be direct
ed to furnish at least so square feet of
floor space to the man, which would
give about five men to the tent.
II also recommend that an obser-
Vation camp be established where
fresh men can be isolated and kept
under observation for at least two
weeks, or until the camp itself shows
evidence of being free from infection.
1.-The division commander tells me
that he expects a large increase in
the force Mt an early date. I urge
that no fresh men be sent to this
camp until the division commander
says that he is able to care for Them
along the lines of this recommends
ton.
There has been a good deal of dis
! comfort and exposure on account of
the men having nothing but their
summer clothing. This has been in
great part corrected in the last ten
days by the arrival OF wooden clothing
and overcoats.
The olive drab wool has not vet
been issued, but the authorities are
informed it is on the way. The whole
command is still i'm khaki.
Heat and plumbing are badly
needed in the HOSPITAL. Both were au
thorized two weeks ago. recon-
mend that the matter be pressed and
the hospital be equipped in this re-
sGect at just as early a date as pos
sible The hospital needs more trans
portation. recommend that they be
furnished one motor car. one three
TON truck, one one and one-half ton
truck and one three e-quarters ton
truck. The hospital at present has
$50 patients
AT Camp Bowie, where the Thirty
sixth Division is in training. General
Corgas reported during the past
month ii deaths from pneumonia out
or 400 cases admitted to the hospital
About 1900 cases of measles have de-
veloped i'm the same length Of time.
''There is Il great deal of uneasiness
and criticism among the people with
rogard to the conditions here which
are worse from the sanitary pcirt of
view than in any of the camps L
have visited" General Gor2as said.
"The base hospital is unfinished,
without water, plumbing or sewerage
I recommend that telegraphic instruc-
tions be sent 20 the division COM