The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-03-04
A SANITARY REGULATION

A SANITARY REGULATION
 In defending his statement that the war department is inefficient, Senator Chamber lain cited the letter received by him from a young woman whose brother, soldier at one of the national army cantonments, died of Cerebro- spinal meningitis. The body was shipped home for burial, wrapped in a sheet and packed in cotton. Inasmuch as the sol dier died for his country, his relatives thought he should have been clothed i'll his uniform.
 Presumably the sister did not know, al- though Senator Chamberlain should have known, that the shipping of the body in this way was purely in accord with sanitary regu- lations, for cerebro-spinal meningitis is very contagious disease. The soldiers uniform was presumably burned as first precaution against the spreading of the disease. The shipping of the body in that condition was not an evidence of neglect
 The other charges made by Senator Chamberlain involving neglect and inditfer- ence to the welfare of sick and suffering sol diers were shown to be equally as baseless as the above instance. It is true that there have been some individual cases of neglect and wilful indifference by some men appoint ed to more or less responsible positions in army hospitals.
 These cases, however, have come under the notice of the war department, and severe punishment is being meted out to the off cials implicated. But the army is not indif- ferent to its members health. Noted Ameri- cans have made special Investigations, and their findings are highly credtable to army medical men and attendants
 Mary Roberts Rinehart the noted writ CT, after visiting army hospitals in all sec tlons of the country, wrote Secretary Baker regarding conditions as follows: Of cruelty and indifference 1 have found nothing On the contrary, 1 found the medical staffs of the hospitals both efficient and humane. When 1t is remembered that the medical men of these national army hospitals are volunteers, who have cheerfully relinquished the results of their labor to give their services to their country, that they are of the best we have, as all volunteers are, they are willingly un- dergoing hardship and privation to take care of our boys; it is wrong that the country at large should so misjudge them. The best specialists have placed themselves at the dis posal of the army medical department, and ninty-,line ont of q Hundred men in the draft ed army are receiving better care than they could afford, under the best circumstances to receive at home.
 Nursing is on the same high plane. Again we find volunteers, highly skilled and care fully trained women, who have taken the small pay and dscomforts of army life that they may serve where they are most needed.
 Wards are large and airy. Beds are comfortable. 1 have found exquisite cleanli- ness everywhere. Moreover, I have found cheerfulness. Food is good and plentiful. 1 have examined storerooms and kitchens, and watched the diets being served under the di- rection of woman detician"
 Mrs. Rinehart is not inexperienced in hospital work. She was trained as nurse. She speaks from standpoint of knowledge. She is interested, personally, in seeing that the hospitals are right and the medical ser vice efficient, since she has husband and son in the national army.
 In closing her letter to the secretary, this well known writer declares: "The wo- men of the country must know the facts. They have the right to know them It is not fair to let them believe, as many of them do now, that the great and humane American