The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-21
such conditions as relate to the cpl
demic diseases at present prevailing
Camp Pike, Ark, Dec. S, 1917


Camp Pike, Ark.
I During the last month we have
had at this post 81 deaths from pneu-
monia, with 241 admissions: 4 deaths
from spinal meningitis, with l6 admis-
sions; 2.1OO cases of measles admit
ted; 12S cases of scarlet fever, WIN
II deaths-the immediate cause OF
death in these cases being pneumonia,
thew are included under that heading;
124 cases of humps. These figures
Indicate a serious condition of affairs
at this camp The principal cause OF
measles, as has been pointed out in
other camps, is that large number OF
the troops came from the sparsely
settled States and had not had meas
les before. OF the 16 cases OF menin-
gifts occurring within the month, 10
came from Fort Riley. This is an IL
lustration of the way one camp can
infect another by means of cases
brought by incoming troops. All
these infections have evidently been
introduced into the camp by troops
coming from other infected camps or
by men who had been infected at their
homes. An important means of pre-
venting this for the future will be the
building of observation camps, where
the men can be kept under observa
tion for at least two weeks before
they are admitted to the general camp
AS this camp shows such evidence of
severe infection, think the same OBJ
servation camp could be established
for those going out.
q Crowding in this camp | do not
think exists to any appreciate extent.
When the division shall have been
filled we will have about 40 square
feet per man. AS this camp shows
such marked evidence of infection, |
recommend that this be increased. by
means of additional buildings, to so
square feet per man.
). The number of cases of measles
admitted has been declining rapidly
for the past 10 days, and | believe the
present epidemic is over. The mum.
Der of cases of pneumonia from meas
les, as would be expected, is on the in
crease and we should naturally expect
a greater number of deaths from this
disease during the next week or II
Gays. Within the last Is days 5000
new men have been introduced int(
the camp. 1t is possible that wher
these 5000 men begin to show infec
ton we will go through an epidemi,
similar to that through which we hav,
just passed, However, as most O
'hese men come from the thickly DOB
ulated State of Iowa, | do not thinl
II probable that they will have mea
sizes as severely as the men who hav,
Just been through the epidemic; bu
certainly until this matter is deter
mined and the camp is free from in
iectlon no additional men should b,
sent here. recommend that the di
vision commander be directed not f.
receive more men until he is able :,
comply with the recommendation,
above made concerning space and nh
SerVatloh camps and until this cam,
SHOWS evidence of being free from in
lection.
t. one great difficulty here is lacl
OF segregation. In Camp Biwie fod in
stance, if we get case of menino;t;,
IN a tent of 9 men it is very cas-,
matter to segregate these men an,
determine whether or not thew bav,
been infected. Here, with a soua,
room containing 12O men, this is muc,
more difficult. | urge, therefore tba
IN extending this camp as above rec
commended that the quarters to h,
erected for this purpose and for III,
purpose of isolation contain not NOR,
than s men.
o. me command has been in II
summer clothing until recentlv I'm,
ing the last month the winter clothin,
hss begun to come in and tho mo,
are now pretty we'll supplied wifi
'hick clothing, though there are sev
eral commands in the camp that bav
not yet been fully supplied. This loo,
OF clothing, with the exposure to III
cold' has no doubt been an elemen
causing large pneumonia rate.
g. The camp is well located and fl
the camp site good. Cleanliness an
order and general sanitary condition,
with the exception of the epidemic,
seem to be excellent.
Z, The hospital is nearly complete
ana is as well supplied as could he a,
pected under the circumstances A
present they have in tho h0s....-, -