The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-21


Through the Adjutant General of the
Army
Subject Report of inspection OF
Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga.
/. In my recent inspection of Camp
Wheeler, at Macon, Ca, found condi-
lions as had been indicated by reports.
There had been sharp epidemic of
measles, some 5000 cases, and as
always occurs with measles, certain
number of cases of pneumonia in the
hospital While the hospital was
crowded, the right of way was given
the pneumonia cases, and they were
being we'll cared for.
2. In the past month there have been
about 60 deaths from pneumonia. The
height of the measles epidemic was
passed some 10 days ago, and at the
time of my visit the epidemic was
markedly on the decline, but the
pneumonia was still on the increase.
Generally pneumonia does not devel-
CD in a patient until week or 10
days after the incidence of the meas
les.
g. We can, therefore expect con-
siderable number of deaths from
pneumonia.
4. The camp is we'll situated and
was in generally good condition. |
think the reason for the measles af-
fecting so severely this particular
camp is the fact that men came from
the surrounding Southern States
which are sparsely settled, and there
fore the inhabitants do not, as a rule,
have measles in childhood.
5. large proportion of the cases
of pneumonia were evidently contact
cases, and l am anxious on this score,
fearing that we may be beginning
here an epidemic of septic pneumonia.
We have had a few cases of meningi.
It's, few cases of scarlet fever, and
some cases of mumps.
g. Whatever the original cause OF
the epidemic and the present condi-
lions, all these evils are accumulated
by the crowded condition Of the camp.
The tendency to pneumonia has no
doubt been increased by the fact that
the men have generally been exposed
to the cold weather of the past month
with no other protection than their
summer clothing. Clothing is now
rapidly coming into camp and about
two-thirds of the men are supplied
with wooden garments.
7. recommend that it be insisted
upon that all men in the camp have
so feet of floor space each, and to &C.
complish this such additional shelter
be supplied as may be necessary;
that no fresh men be brought into the
camp until the epidemic has subsid'
ed; that an observation camp be es.
tablished; and that all new men be
kept under observation until the main
camp is free from infection.
W. C. GORGAS,
Surgeon General, United States Army
From: Surgeon General, United
States Army
To: Chief of Staff, United States
Army.
Subject: Camp Sanitation.
1. Sanitary conditions here are seri
Gus. Sixty men have died of pneu
monia in the past month. The camp
has been exposed to general epidem
ic of measles, about 1000 cases hav
ing occurred within the last month
During this same period they have
had 175 cases of pneumonia and Ii
cases of meningitis. The new con
scripts of this command are men who
are nonimmune to measles. They
come from the neighboring Southern
States, where population is scarce
and therefore have not had measles in
childhood. Always with measles g
certain number of cases of pneumonia
occur. The mortality of pneumonia
from any cause is always high.
2. The basic insanitary condition
however, in my opinion, is overcrowd
ing. In the past in this camp the di
vision commander has had to put II
to IL men in tent, due to the short
age of tentage. This would give about
20 square feet of space to each man
AT present he has to put men in q
tent, which gives about Is square feet
to the man. urge that the division
commander be directed to furnish al
least so square feet of floor space tc
the man, which would give about 6
men to the tent.
8. also recommend that an observa
ton camp be established where fresh
men can be isolated and kept under
ohservation for Of 1aoof f,r-o 1yaai,s ~