Evening star., 1918-01-25
TENT 0VERCROWD|NG
IS SPARTLY T0BLAME
So Testifies Gen. Gorgas Be.
fore Senate Committee on
Disease in Camps.

Overcrowding at Army camps was
partly responsible for disease at the
camps, Surgeon. General GorEas told
the Senate military affairs committee
today. He confirmed the statement OF
Senator Chamberlain in the Senate yes
terday that he had not been consulted
about sites for the cantonments. He
said, however, that generally the sites
were we'll chosen and the sanitary con-
ditions. broadly speaking. were good.
'As general rule, think the sani-
tary conditions Of the, camps were
good" the general said.
cases, Surgeon General 0orgas stated,
occurred at camps where measles were
prevalent.
Were you consulted with reference
to the selection OF camp sites? asked
Chairman Chamberlain.
Not Consulted About Sites.
"No, I was not" Cen. Gorgas replied.
explaining that their selection was
largely left to the departmental divi-
sion commanders.
That was because Of the policy to
decentralize authority and leave such
matters to the jurisdiction of the divi-
sional commanders?" Senator Chamber
lain inquired.
Il think that was the reason" Gen.
Gorgas replied.
Senator Chamberlain asked him to
give q general statement regarding
conditions at camps he personally in
spected.
They were in general tho same"
generally Were Wen selected. T / think &
the drainage and caro- Of the camps
generally was good, certainly consid-
ering the character of unframed troops
In them. Measles and pneumonia epi-
denies caused US the most worry, with
pneumonia the greatest cause OF death,
often following measles epidemics."
Not More Than Five in Tent.
Gen. Gorgas said that not moro than
five men should be housed in the l6 by 16
tents used in National Guard camps, but
that he had seen as high as nine living
in one tent and had reports Of twelve.
Such overcrowding for any length Of
time is dangerous he said, and was partly
responsible for disease at the camps
The steam heating plants and sew
erage systems have not been COM
pleted at the hospitals at any National
Guard camps. but were pretty well''
completed at the National Army camps,
he said.
1t was brought out through ques-
hospitals usually are the last build
ings finished at new camp. and Cen
GorRas said he believed they should
be the first to be ready.
Discusses Mortality Rate.
Gen. Gorgas said the mortality rate
Of 8.2 per cent for all camps was
higher than the average death rate
forty years of age. Senator Hitchcock
remarked that the average health Of
men taken into the Army was much
better than all civilians between those
ages.
Praising the Medical Corps personnel,
DIR. Gorgas said:
"The doctors are tho cream Of the pro-
fession-about half Of the country's most
prominent men; the female uurses are
enlisted men orderlies are entirely un-
trained. country boys mostly, with no
more skill than the average person would
pick up. .-.,
a very large training school for ORDER
Clothing Shortages.
Relation Of clothing shortages in the
camps to disease epidemics was inquired
into by Chairman Chamberlain.
"I thought the men should certainly
have their full allowance Of clothing"
said Gen. Gorgas. But am not pre-
pared to say whether a man exposed to
the cold Is more likely to get pneu-
monia than ono not SO exposed. I
wouldn't want him exposed. But we
have pneumonia epidemics where cold
has no relation"
One Of the most severe pneumonia cpl
denies he ever saw, Gen. Gorgas said
was in Panama. and there 1t was checked
by abolishing overcrowding in quarters
isn't 1t true that men improperly
clad are more likely to be sick?" asked
Senator Chamberlain.
Yes. as a general proposition" Cen.
Gorgas replied. explaining that at the
camps where pneumonia was worst
the overcrowding in quarters also was
found.
Speaks Of Camp Inspections.
When he inspected the camps last
November, Gen. Gorgas said. there were
shortages Of many articles Of clothing
Of different articles in different camps,
but principally of overcoats.
Many of the men had no overcoats
at ALL" he said. IT saw many mon
drilling in workingmen's blue clothes"