The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-09-13
ARMY HEALTH RATE
BEST IN HISTOSY
Less Than Three Per Thousand on the
Average Die From Disease: Scan
dals of Spanish-American War
Avoided: Constant Watchfulness of
Medical Officers Responsible for IN
precedented Record.

=
Washington, D. c., The American
army has practically eradicated the
scourge of disease, which in previous
wars caused more deaths than shrap-
mel and sword.
: The credit side of the army's health
ledger carries a table of lower and
lower percentages. An American SOL
der of today takes his chance on the
firing line rather than in hospital or
mess hall where impure food is serv-
ed. Our armies at home and abroad
are not menaced by embalmed beef
scandals, such as occurred during the
Spanish-American war. Typhoid is
almost unknown on the battle field
and in training camp. Mortality from
pneumonia is remarkably low. Social
diseases no longer seriously menace
the effectiveness of American armies.
A recent report from the office of
the surgeon general of tn army dis
closes that for the past two months
the average death rate on account of
disease was only 2.S per thousand.
This report covers both the American
Expeditionary forces and the training
camps at home.
This means that out of each thous-
and men under arms during that Pc
Rod less than three men have died Of
disease. The man in civil life would
hardly ask greater odds against
death.
Comparative figures covering the
past wars of the United States show
that in these conflicts disease killed
more men-and many more men
than bullets. The chances were against
the seriously wounded soldier, as they
against the man stricken with fever
or other diseases incident to camp
life or congested surroundings.
Sanitation, food inspection, studies
in nutrition, sterilization, watchful-
ness from the moment a selectman
enters a training camp until he goes
into the front line trenches, and then
more watchfulness and attention are
responsible for the creditable record
of the army medical department.
If the Gods of battle spare their
son. the American mother and father
of today need have but little anxiety
about disease. The army guards the
health of its men first because it is
its duty to them; again because bat
ties can be won only by we'll men.
With the disease records of the
SpanishAAmerican war comparative
ly fresh in mind there was nation
wide concern regarding disease pro-
lection when this war came. II has
disappeared for here the record speaks
In the Mexican war (1846-48) the
disease rate was 10 men died of dis
ease to 10 killed in battle-more than
seven to one.
In the armies of the north during
the civil war (1S61-65) IS died of dis
ease to 80 killed in battle-a disease
mortality substantially double the bat
tie mortality.
In the Spanish-American war q89S) |
26 died of disease to 5 killed in battle
ration of more than five to one. w.
phold fever, reduced to almost zero
IN the American armies of TODAY.
claimed most of those who died of i'll
ness instead of in conflict.
During the first ten months of Amer
lean participation in the present world
war there has been parity between
the low death rate from battle and
the death rate from disease
Where eight men have died of dis
ease, eight men have been killed in
oattle, with a combined mortality
winch # projected throughout the year
would be only little more than half .
ne battle mortality and less than
mrd OF the disease mortality of the
:ivil war. VIZ
Approaching the statistics from a
Inherent angle, a health rate so far
unsurpassed has been established bv
he American armies overseas and at
lome. With approximately three mil ,
ION men under arms, military funerals !,
because Of disease are fewer and few ,
7 every day than the funerals in an
american city of three million popu- !
alton. POpN
For the last week in July, for in
stance, the combined reports of the
american expeditionary forces and az !
roops stationed in the United States !
showed an annual death rate for as