Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-05
NOTHING TOO GOOD
FOR OUR SOLDIERS
Men Who Go TO Army Hos
pitals Receive the Very Best
of Treatment.
By Associated Press 20 Every Evening


CHICAGO, MARCH g.
Nothing is too good for United States
soldiers sent to army hospitals for treat
mcnt. according TO Major W. \. Shields,
in charge OF the army's central depart
ment medical supply depot here. who
has lust gwen TO the Associated Press a
detailed account of the methods employed
in safeguarding the health OF the men
IN khaki
Major Shields said that medical Of
hcers AZ the various army hospitals have
fnlv 20 ask for what they want Tor the
treatment of the men and II goes to them.
An officer at Fort Sheridan recently
asked for special type OF operating
table. =. said Major Shields. 1T was not a
standard table and is used only rarely;
Although il had TO bc made To order ana
cost considerably more than the ordinary
table. il was rushed ut once to the nos
pital
MANY army surgeons. he stated, ask
for certain uncommon instruments. some
times for us, IN one particular case only,
vet tho medical supply officers spare no
efforts 10 obtain them.
EVERYTHING SANITARY.
Carving out the departmental policy
Of thoroughness in the treatment OF the
men. only the most sanitary, most modern
and most efficient equipment is sent out
This rule applies to everything, from the
furniture used IN the institutions to the
dishes from which the patients eat.
Major Shields said that all hospitals arc
supplied with high grade silver-plated
kniyrs. forks and spoons, hne quality
linens. the best food, sleeping quarters rs
pleasant and convenient as money can
nrovide. and that everything else IS on
the same high plane
Although the depot has to furnish no
sr,nplics for wounded men as yet, the
hospitals Of the Central Department have
receiycd moro than 5000, 900 feet OF
cloth bapdages enough to extend from
\cu- York to the Texas coast. When
the American forces are actually engaged
in trench warfare in any considerable
numbers. and wounded mon begin TO
pour into American hospitals, Major
Shields said, IL is probable that the medI-
al suprlv depot will bc overtaNcd TO
supply needed bandagcs. Because Of tins
TACT officials arc investigating paper band
.ges which are said 10 he equally as
.ervicrable as the kind now in general
t,sr Papcr bandagcs have been in use in
Germany for some time almost exclusive
IL owing 10 the inability OF that country
ID get material for cloth bandagcs.
Major Shields expressed confidence
hat the department will not be embar-
r.Ssed because Of the scarcity Of any
needed drug or medicine used at army
hosnltals. German drugs have been
duplicated bv American medical lnvcstl-
gators with the result that the department
i adequately equippcd 70 care for ITS
men. either wounded or Ill
Practically no whisky IS used IN army
bospitals. Major Shields said It's use,
hc declared. IS being discouraged because
the reaction II causes makes ITS use IS 3
stltnulant undesirable. according 70 the
medical officer. lie said however, that
small quantity Of whIsky Is carried At the
depot and viii bc supplied should any
if.c.hcal officer call Tor IT, In this con
tlon Major Shields spoke Of the Vera
Cruz expedition in 1914 when ne acted
II medical supply officer for General
Funston
During the month that We were
d ere. he said, j issued Just one quart
d whisky
On the other hand alcohol Is one q the
most widely used medical supplies
kept AT the depot Il Is shipped 10 cam
tonrnert camps in 80 gallon drums and i
used in great quantities for baths and
rubbing