The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-10-23
DEATH Rate Low
AT CAMP DODGE
When One Considers the Number ot
Men at Camp Dodge the Death
Rate Is Not High
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS SENT

-f
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS SENT
Many OutIandish Rumors Floating
About Over the Country as to In
fuenza Conditions Are Unfounded
CAMP DODGE. Oct. 21-The past
week among the soldier boys at Camp
Dodge has been one of feverish anxi-
ETY.. There were so many outlandish
rumors floating about over the coun-
try as to conditions here that letters
by the thousands came pouring into
camp from all over the country, an
xious parents or others making inquiry
as to the reported death toll. the num-
Der of sick men and the condition OF
this or that particular person. Not
only this, but there were rumors that
doctors and nurses had been caught
in the act of inoculating patients with
deadly virus and upon the establish
ment of guilt were taken out and shot.
Another rumor was that guard at
the water reservoir caught man
climbing ladder to get on top Of
the enclosure. After being ordered to
halt and refusing the guard shot him
and upon examination it was found
that he carried a bag containing
enough poison to have contaminated
the entire water system. The num-
ber of deaths was greatly exaggerat-
ed and the statement was freely made
that several car loads of cofiins were
ordered by express. To add to the
anxiety occasioned by these ridicu-
lous rumOrs the authorities at the
camp refused to give out any informa-
tion as to the death rate or to in
form the country as to the number
OF. cases of sickness. This greatly
aggravated the matter and finally the
Des MOines newspapers appealed to
representatives of the associated
press in Washington to ascertain
from the war department the exact
condition. The war department an
nounced that there were 213 deaths
from all causes for the 30 day period
from September 18th to October 12th.
This piece of ofFinfOrmation greatly re-
lieved the tension and excitement sub
sided. When 1t is taken into account
the large number Of men at the; camp
the death rate has been less than Tn
the average county seat town. There
are now in the hospital just about
double the number OF patients that
make up q normal sick list SO it will
be seen that there is no cause for
alarm. With $50 of the best doctors
in the country constantly on duty,
with nearly 800 Red Cross nurses
faithfully looking after their wards,
and with over 1000 enlisted men de-
tailed to assist In caring for the sick,
it. is self evident that careful atten-
tion is being given the afflicted. San
itary conditions are the very best pos
sible, steam heat takes the chill from
the various wards and gauZe masks
through which to breathe prevent'con
tagion. The newest and best meth
dds known to science are used and by
men who stand at the top of their pro-
fession. The X ray department, and
the laboratories, for example, are
Inarvels of completeness. In one ward
soldier, whose entire left side, from
the head down, had become involved
from an infection in his ear, was re-
ceiving the Carrell-Dakin treatment.
In the wards confined to contagious
disease the cubical system is employ
ed. This Is a tent like arrangement
o. sheets, on each side of patients
bed, which prevents the spreading Of
FERNS to the next patient. 1t Is a we'll
know fact according to DR.. S. Jacobs,
division epidemiologist, who, by the
way, is directly responsible for the
100 per cent decrease in pneumonia
at the cantonment during May, that
germs fall to the floor, and the cubi-
col system, while not interfering with
ventilation, keeps the germs from be-
Ing lifted BIZ dir currents from one
patient to the other. There are sep
arate wards and examining rooms,
with their individual hospital staffs,
for every Illness. On each door is
marked the nature of the disease
which is taken care Of there, and each
has it's own diet kitchen, linen rooms,
eonvalescent wards, etc. No depart
lnent comes in contact with another.
The clinical records Of some of the
pneumonia patients are almost an
inch thick, showing various examina-
tions. They are given two alcohol
rubs and a bath each day, and be-
tween each meal and before going to
sleep are given eggnogs, fruit drinks
or something similar. The most WV
id impression that remains with one
is the sense of cleanliness. You can
60 through any of the rooms, run
your fingers under table boards or
along window stills. and not find
speck of dust. The medical officers
declare that the epidemic at Camp.
Dodge is now we'll under control;
that the number of new cases report
ed each day is rapidly diminishing,
and that the mortality rate among
those afflicted is showing most graf
flying decrease "We are daily. turn
ing out of the hospital large and
constantly increasing number of pa
ttents who have fully recovered and
are again ready for duty" said Cap
tain Butler. Persons who have rela.
tives stationed at Camp Dodge will
be spared much unnecessary anguish
and suspense if they can be made to
understand that they will be prompt
" notified by telegraph in case a SOL
dier relative should become seriously
illand that they will be repeatedly
and continuously telegraphed until
they actually acknowledge receipt Of
'thA infOrmatiOnNd - declared Cant; w.