Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-07-22
ARMY TREATMENT
OF TUBERCULOS
Some 5000 Soldiers Admitted
to Hospital at Oteen, N. c.,
in u Months.
Disease Arrested IN 1000
Quiescent in 1000 Cases, 600 Under
Treatment, While 500 Have Died
Most Efficient Modern Meth
DDS Employed.

hingtOn.-Among the vast enter
prises which have engaged the atten-
ton of our government during the last
few years the physical reconstruction
of our soldiers who saw service
abroad ranks among the first. And
among those who needed the closest
care and attention were Service men
who fell prey to tuberculosis.
These victims of the dreaded white
plague have been treated by the most
efficient modern methods in the great
army hospitals which arose as if by
magic in different parts of the country
The work has been carried on un0sten-
tatiOusly, and but little knowledge Of
it has come to the attention of the
public.
The physical health of the men
taken into the service had to be gen
orally excellent, as is quite well I'M
derstOOd, otherwise the medical ex-
aminers would be obliged to reject
volunteer or draftee
Notwithstanding all the care taken
to select none but sound men. the in
fluenZa epidemic resulted in the de-
velOnment of tuberculosis in a great
many of our soldiers, as the secondary
result of this acute infection.
In addition, many soldiers who had
been gassed readily became victims of
the disease Moreover, the constant
damp and rainy weather in France
would often result in the development
of pneumonia, another ready factor in
activating tuberculosis.
While a few men got into the army
who already had small tubercular
LESSONS, these were so slight as to be
passed or overlooked by the examin-
ers. However, when such men were
unduly exposed and subjected to the
severe physical work incident to army
service, a break in the normal state
of health resulted.
It was from these sources, there
fore, that the great majority of the
tubercular patients in the army were
recruited. Indeed, many thousands of
soldiers required treatment
Provision for their care was made
at Otisville, N. Y; Denver, Colo. Fort
Bayard, N. NJ, and Oteen, N. c., be-
sides several smaller posts that have
since been abandoned entirely OR
turned over to the department of pub
lie health.
Two Main Hospitals.
The main army hospitals for the
treatment of tuberculosis at present
are at Denver and Oteen. United
States General Hospital No. 10 is the
one at Oteen which is near Asheville
It has established a splendid record
and will serve best as an example in
giving brief outline of the treatment
of tuberculosis as it is carried out in
the army.
No. 10 is a hospital conducted on a
truly gigantic scale. 1t is a town in
itself, consisting of more than one hun
dred buildings which cover $40 acres
Of land. The money outlay was 3d.
100000. No. 10 has its own water sup
ply and sewerage system. The grounds
at night are lighted by electricity, and
are intersected by cement and macad-
amized roads. There are two central
heating plants for the hospital.
The buildings are of wood and
painted. The unit ward system was
used in construction, which permits
the very sick to be quartered away
from those only slightly afflicted, and
also permits of more individual care
where there are only a few patients in
each building.
More than 1,4O0 beds were avail
able in this institution for the treat
ment of tuberculosis.
The surgeon generals office has
taken great pride in this hospital and
has been most energetic in the en-
deavor to have everything at the top
notch of efficiency The success
achieved has amply demonstrated
what can be done by skill and devo-
ton.
When the hospital was built in the
berculosis was installed He re-
tired and returned to private work,
and was succeeded by Col. William c.
Lyster, a regular army man of more
than twenty years service. He had
held very responsible posts in England
and France and had been decorated by
King George with the Order of st. Mi
chael and st. George. Prior to the
war he was known to army men as
the inventor Of the Lyster water bag
for the use Of troops in the field,
which is always used when fresh wa
ter is unObtainable.
Many difficulties in the way of pro-
viding an ideal treatment for the tu-
berculous were encountered at first.
One of the most apparent was the
amount of money allowed for the daily
ration. The war department allowed
but Ga cents, an amount experts say
is totally inadequate 70 provide the
nroper kind and quality of food re-