The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-12-17
Su|fa Drugs, Blood PIdsmd, New Te1hniques
Have Doubled Soldiers Chances OF Survival

4. Convalescent cases, still con-
fined to beds.
Men in the first two classes are
segregated from other patients, put
back in uniform, and placed UNI
der regular discipline. These SOL
diers 60 on marches UP to is miles,
engage in training maneuvers, play
body contact games, and work at
such projects as victory gardens,
poultry raising, and construction
work. Generally these men are will
ing and eager to return to service.
Soldiers in classes three and four
receive every treatment possible to
hasten recovery-massage, sun bath
ing, supervised exercise. Those who
can help the ward attendants In
their duties, and engage in such
games as their condition permits. A
program Of education in military and
cultural sciences and entertain
ments helps to keep their minds oc-
cupied and at ease.
The army maintains about 80 gen.
eral hospitals in the United States,
each containing about a thousand
beds. There are about 600 smaller
institutions at various posts through
out the world. Army personnel
have about $4,000 beds available,
and more hospitals are in construc-
ton. The navy operates 36 general
hospitals and seven convalescent
institutions in the United States, to-
falling 10000 beds. Facilities at
posts and stations amount to an adj
ditional $4,000 beds.
Prevention.
Another important service Of the
medical departments is prevention
Of diseases by antitoxins and sani-
tary measures. NEGOTIATIONS in both
army and navy include serums to
prevent typhoid fever, smallpox,
tetanus, yellow fever, typhus, chol-
era and plague. Some are given to
every man in service, others only to
those who will likely be exposed to q
particular disease.
Results have been most satisfac-
tory. During 1912 there were no
cases of yellow fever or cholera
in the army, and only few cases
of smallpox and plague. About 80
men became sick with typhus, but
only less than half a dozen died.
Scarcely any man who had been
inoculated for tetanus developed in
lection. The navy reported similar
success in battling diseases.
Last war the influenza epidemic
swept through army camps, causing
80 per cent Of the disease deaths
in 1918. A mild epidemic threatened
in December, 1941, and lasted until
March, 1912, but it was easily. COM
trolled, and practically no deaths re-
suited. A form of pneumonia called
''atypap' has been widespread, and
has put many men in the hospital,
but the mortality rate is low. Re-
covery is slow, so loss Of time from
duty is serious.
Servicemen in the tropics are ex-
posed to some bizarre diseases such
as filariasis, a parasitic ailment
transmitted by mosquitoes. The all
ment breaks forth in LESSONS and
glandular swellings. Only about sew
en- cases per 100000 men have been
reported.
Fighters in the South seas have
encountered malaria in the swampy
islands. In 1912 the army's rate Of
malarial infection was about 80 men
per thousand. It rose to 80 per
thousand during 1943, because Of in
creased activities in the steaming
jungles. The marine landing forces
report a rate of 1855 per thousand,
or nearly 16 per cent. This, despite
mosquito repellents, screens, spray
ing of mosquito larvae and admin
istration Of drugs, including quinine
compounds, to servicemen. Malaria
is called a serious health menace
by the medical authorities.
Widespread battlefronts have null
tiplied the problems Of the medical