The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-24
REPORTS ON CAMP
Huffman Tells Governor Funs.
ton Conditions Are Better.
Sick Soldiers Are Given Every
Possible Attention.

Chas. S. Huffman. adjutant general.
who went to Camp Funston and Fort
Riley at the request of Governor Cap
per to study the influenza conditions
there, reported to the governor today
that conditions had been bad at the
outset of the epidemic but had bedn
improved. At present Doctor Huff
man said conditions at the camp and
base hospital were all that could be
desired to protect the men in the
camp. He said that ample food of the
proper kind and carefully prepared,
goods beds. good surroundings and
ample nursing facilities had been pro-
vided.
4 When the various reports and ru-
mors of conditions at the camp came
to the governor he asked General
Leonard Wood about the hospital.
General Wood replied that everything
possible was being done but invited
eral Huffman. who had been prac-
tising physician and surgeon for many
years.
Huffman's Report.
The report in part:
Every means possible was furnished by
General Wood, that my inspection could
be made tboro and complete. he said
every thing was open and that ! was at
and di make e such @ I'm invcstigation % as desissa.
I'm Camp Funston proper, Found tha,
twen.y,wo buildings Or narEacks bar the Ell, Mes
fngs, were used as hospitals during the
height Of the epidemic At this time, all
of the twenty two barracks are vacant and
being cleaned with one exception, where .
number Of patients that were convalescine
were kept Only conSaleseeFts were In the
ing, there were only 1a5 patients and they
were all on the road to recovery. Nine
hundred and eleven all told. were treated
in the Kansas building.
Only one death occurred among those
kept in the buildings just named. The
majority Of, the pneumonia and all serious
The total number of cases of influenza and
pneumonia something like 1890: deaths
up to date from these causes. SI1. The tota
number Of soldiers at Camp Funston IL
now 65.0oO.
AT. this time find there are 800 pa
tients in the hospital; of these, loo have
pneumonia. The latter number includes tbs
convalescents. In the last twenty y-foul
hours. there have been nine deaths. l wen
thru many of the wards Of the base hos
pital and made as good an examination d!
was possible in a limited time. of a mum
ber OF patients, and while there are I
The condition of the wards is excellent. a
| to cleanliness and ventilation, and all tha
| could be expected in any good hospital
There are plenty of nurses and doctors t,
give G each patient lent. all the the attention needed
| epidemic when they were receiving hun
. dreds Of patients daily lin one day LAO
nurses and trained attendants, there wa
much hardship and suffering. But W
| must remember that this epidemic cam
| suddenly like a stroke of lightning out o
| a clear sky, and that in many places th
civilian population suffered from not bein
| able to meet the emergency. l found tina
duty almost continuously at the beigh
Of the epidepic, and are to be commende
for their efforts to meet this great emer
gency.
lat this time, think I can assure yo
that no parent or relative need have an
apprehension but what boys in camp ar
receiving the best of attention and treat
ment. The influenza is subsiding and 1t
to be hoped in short time, it will b
completely under conttNl'