The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-04-10
HEALTH CAUs's ;
Much CONCE,
Fifteen Deaths at Camp Dodge In Six
Days, Caused by Pneumonia, Give
Officials Much Concern.

Days, Caused by Pneumonia, Give
OFFICIALS Much Concern.
nuRsEs ARE BADLY NEEDED
While Allotment Of Red Cross Nurses
Has Been Practically Met, There
10 Still Urgent Need.
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, Camp
Dodge, April Sheath conditions the
past week have given the medical
corps much concern. Fifteen deaths
from pneumonia in six days caused
an investigation to be made as to the
probable source of the disease. 1t is
stated that 30 per cent Of the cases
are fatal In most cases chill fol-
lowed a period Of rest after the men
had been doing vigorous drill duty,
and were overheated from strenuous
exercise.
For two weeks prior to the rain the
fore part OF the week, dust clouds blew
through the camp continuously: I. At
times one could scarcely see before
him. Soldiers came In from drills
choked up and covered with dust..'t
Autopsies in several cases, surgeons
say, showed soldiers lungs filled With
dust particles. The pneumonia y is
found Of blood poisoning type. Pus
forms and poisons the Whole body.
These deaths, while they can not be
directly attributed to the dust Is has.
teuing plans for oiling the roads and
there are many urging that the entire
parade and drill grounds be oiled, de-
claring II 1t will save but one life 1t is
worth the outlay in time and cash.
Wherever possible the men with
colds are being moved into separate
sections of the barracks. Ohlcers de-
clare that many discarded their heavy
rnderclothing during recent warm
weather.
Commanding officers are especially
charged to warn their men against ex-
posure following drills.
When the number OF men at the
camp is taken into account the death
rate is very small. Pneumonia has
been unusually prevalent in all com.
munities the past winter and there Is
nothing alarming here. The best ply
sicians in the United States and over
100 Red Cross nurses are constantly
on duty and this gives assurance Of
great care in guarding the health OF
the soldiers.
Carrier Pigeons in Training.
Another bunch of carrier pigeons
has arrived. This makes nearly 100
birds on. duty. These belong tQssfhe
313th Field Signal Battalion ID. 8. CON-
manded by Sergeant Christopher
Schmerfeld, Of the English army. Ser
geant Schmerfeld has handled carriers
for years. He was for twelve years
with the British army and his pigeons
carried many important messages In
the Boer war. Seven hundred miles
is deemed no distance at all for car
rier to co. In fact Sergeant Schmer'
field tells OF one carrier pigeon which
he gave to a man in Mandalay. China.
The bird was taken to point in Eng
land, some $500 miles distant. Some
time later the sergeant received let
ter from the man saying he had ar
rived in England safely with the pig
con. But before the letter arrived. the
carrier was roosting contentedly back
on his perch in Mandalay. Trial
fights will be begun with the pigeons
at once.
Do you know how to Call carrier
pigeon?
A little buckshot. ratified in a tin
pan or can Is the dulcet noise which
brings these birds tluttering to their
trainer. That sound is used because
1t may be continued more steady
than a whistle. To familiarize the
birds with the call their trainer allows
them to BECOME hungry Then he rat
ties some stones or buckshOt in tin
can as he feeds them. The next time
they hear the rafting sound they
know that to answer 1t meands food.
and they don't hesitate.
Dodge VIII Get Two New Majors
Two new majors are on their way
to Camp Dodge.
Major Ralph Leavitt. relieved as adj
jutant OF the depot bridgade at Camp
Grant, Rockford, ILL.,. will be attached
to the 366th infantry here. according
to a dispatch from Rockford. He
probably will command a battalion OF
tho negro unit.
Major Leopold Mitchell. NJ. c.. is
coming from Camp Sheridan, Chilli.
cothe. Ohio, to organize, equip and
SOuuIuUuu SAO OuoS aO0FASuaS ASsAS'A"e
Lieutenant Colonel Cooper. who will
be in command Of the reconstruction
hospital at Ft. Des Moines.
Muster Roll viii be Cut From Army
Life
The muster roll will be eliminated
from the army.
At Camp Dodge the division person.
nell officer is taking measures that will
throw the muster voll completely out
of the present army system.
Organization commanders will be
left to their duties of training and lead
ing men, while daily reports will be
made to the adjutant general. by the
personnel officer.
Nurses Badly Needed.
While the allotment of Red Cross
nurses at Camp Dodge has been prac-
tically met there is still urgent need
of additional nurses here. The open
ing OF the national hospital at Fort
Des Moines this week with staff Of
300 trained physicians and surgeons
will make another large contingent OF
nurses necessary. This hospital is to
receive chronic cases from all of the
in the midwest. It is
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