The frequency of the principal contagious diseases and deaths is shown in Table 42. TABLE NO. 42.-Admissions and deaths, infectious diseases, Camp Doniphan, 1917. The most striking feature of Table 42 is the large number of cases of measles with relatively few cases of pneumonia as complications. The camp surgeon reports as follows: On October 12, 1917, Company H, One hundred and thirty-ninth Infantry, arrived in camp. This company had been detained at Abilene, Kans., for some weeks on account of measles, and after having undergone a period of quarantine of 18 days at that place, had been permitted to come to this camp. However, upon arrival at this camp a case of measles was discovered. It was isolated immediately and the company again put in quarantine in this camp. Cases occurred from time to time in this company until almost every man had suffered an attack. This infection was peculiar in that it was mild, attended with few complications, and in that the attack lasted only a few days. A number of men suffered two and several three attacks of this infection. Maj. Sidney Straus, Medical Reserve Corps, chief of the medical section, base hospital, makes the following comments on this infection: "We have treated in the contagious wards of the base hospital, Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, Okla., some 20 odd cases from Company H, Third Kansas Regiment, now the One hundred and thirty-ninth Infantry, the exact diagnosis of which is doubtful. None of the patients have been at all sick. There has been no lachrymation or photophobia, and but few sore throats. The temperatures have been normal or very slightly above normal. A few show a typical exanthem on hard palate, consisting of pea sized irregular pinkish macules, discrete in every instance. A few cases show typical Koplik spots. Many show a small punctate eruption just at the junction of the hard and soft palate, of the nature of petechiæ. There were occasionally a few petechiæ on the mucous membrane of the cheeks. The eruption consisted of small discrete dark red macules, scattered mainly over chest and abdomen, disappearing very rapidly in two or three days. The contagiousness of the disease and character of the exanthem lead one to believe that we are dealing with a very mild epidemic of measles." This company was kept in quarantine until December 4, 1917, when, 18 days having elapsed since the last case, they were released and allowed to proceed to their regimental area. In the meantime cases had developed in several other regiments in the division. Careful instructions were issued to regimental and other independent unit surgeons on the following points: Sending of case to hospital at once; isolation of contacts; examination of contacts twice daily; careful examination of all cases at sick call for suspects; establishing of a camp for suspect cases in each regiment or other unit and placing of guard around same. However, in spite of these measures there was a gradual and continuous spread of the infection. On December 3 a memorandum was issued to the entire command. The high-water mark was reached on December 24, there being on that date 486 cases. From this date there was a gradual falling off, so that on December 31 there were only 356 cases. The proper handling of the epidemic was interfered with by delay in finishing the base hospital, which was not completely ready for occupancy by the end of the year. The post hospital that had to be used in the emergency epidemic proved wholly inadequate for this purpose. Lobar pneumonia (primary) assumed a threatening aspect in November with 76 admissions; it continued through the winter, causing many deaths. Meningitis.-On November 7, 1917, a case of meningitis developed in Caisson Company No. 2, One hundred and tenth Ammunition Train. The company had just arrived and was mobilized at this place, being made up of National Guardsmen from Kansas and Missouri. The man was sent to the base hospital at once and all tentmates cultured. On November 8 another case developed in an adjoining company. Similar methods were pursued in this instance, and the carriers treated with a spray of dicjoloramine-T. From these cases there was a gradual spread to other organizations, so that on December 31 there were 18 cases. Isolation camp-On December 11 the Surgeon General visited the camp and made an inspection of the base hospital and the camp. As a result of the Surgeon General's recommendations two important sanitary measures were put into effect a short time afterwards-the reduction of the number of men to 5 per cent and the establishing of the isolation camp. This camp was established about one-half mile northwest of division headquarters, put in command of a medical officer, and sufficient tentage furnished from the outset to accommodate all contacts, with only five men to the tent. All contacts were sent immediately for the fol lowing: measles, cerebrospinal meningitis, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and, at the outset, a few for mumps. The principle followed was to quarantine in units of five. The camp had been in operation only 15 days on December 31, the last day of this report, but the effectiveness of this plan had already become manifest, even at that date. 26. CAMP MAC ARTHUR, TEX. This camp at Waco, Tex., received the Thirty-second (old Eleventh) Division, consisting mostly of National Guard troops from Michigan and Wisconsin. The weather at Camp MacArthur was unusually cold during the months of November and December and reached 30° on the 17th of the latter month. The season was exceptionally dry. To Camp MacArthur came troops as shown in Figure 35. The strength of the camp reached a maximum of 26,000 in October, and thereafter diminished slightly. The leading causes of admission to sick report and of death are given in Table 43. TABLE NO. 43.-Admissions and deaths, infectious diseases, Camp MacArthur, 1917. 1 Figures in parentheses indicate number of colored troops in venereal disease only. Polygon of weekly strength of Camp MacArthur measured by scale on the left. There were many cases of measles, but these resulted in exceedingly few complications and only one death. There were also numerous admissions on account of tuberculosis and lobar pneumonia, but the fatality was very small. 27. CAMP LOGAN, TEX. This camp is located at Houston, Tex., at a point less than a mile west of the corporation limits of that city, a railroad and cotton center of 100,000 inhabitants. The camp site has the shape of a bluntended triangle, the apex lying in an easterly direction and toward the city of Houston, at an elevation of 50 feet above sea level, and contains 2,000 acres. The terrain, although close to the Buffalo River, is practically on a dead level, and it has been necessary to dig ditches, 6 to 7 feet deep for mains with sufficient laterals, in the vicinity of the occupied areas to provide rapid drainage for bath and surface water. Conditions have been much improved since the camp has been established, until at the present time there is no difficulty in securing the prompt drainage of all surface water within 24 hours after rainfall. The water supply is derived from an artesian well which has & depth of 557 feet and a capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute. The camp reservoir has a capacity of 1,600,000 gallons and is roofed, so as to prevent contamination and the growth of alge. The weather during the last three months of the year was exceedingly dry, and even near the Gulf coast exceptionally cool, though the minimum temperature for December was only 20° F. To Camp Logan was sent the old Twelfth Division of the National Guard from the State of Illinois. These were mostly seasoned men, largely of urban origin. Figure 36 shows the weekly changes in strength and indicates that transfers occurred from and to the camp, which reached its maximum strength of 33,000 in November. The number of admissions to sick report and deaths from principal diseases are given in Table 44. Measles and German measles, while common, never assumed epidemic proportions. Infected squads were isolated and their bedding insolated daily for 12 days. Polygon of weekly strength of Camp Logan measured by scale on the left. 10000 -30.000 -20,000 -10.000 7 14 21 28 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 Sept. Oct. CAMP Nov. CHART NO. 36. Dec. TABLE NO. 44.-Admissions and deaths, infectious diseases, Camp Logan, 1917. 1 Figures in parentheses indicate number of colored troops in venereal disease only. Venereal disease.-A large majority of these cases were imported into the camp and consisted of old chronic cases that were overlooked or waived by the examining officers. This and the fact that regimental surgeons were required to card all cases of venereal diseases for record will account for the high venereal rate for this disease. It was the fact that many of the organizations were without the facilities for prophylaxis at mobilization camps. Typhoid fever. All cases are believed to have been contracted before joining the division, as all of these men had had their first inoculation. 28. CAMP BOWIE, TEX. Camp Bowie is located in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Tex., on a high dry rolling and generally fine terrain, but a little too much. intermingled with a suburban residential district. The weather during the last months of the year was unprecedentedly dry, which was the cause of much dust in camp. November was of average temperature until toward the end severe and frequent "northers" set in. December was cold, the temperature being 12° on the 10th of the month. The first contingent of troops belonging to the Texas and Oklahoma National Guard arrived in camp August 25. At this time temporary barracks were partly constructed and latrines established. but no kitchen incinerators had been made. The base hospital had not been started, and the sick were kept in tents. By September 28, 17,000 troops had arrived and this camp gradually increased, by adding drafted men from Camp Travis (of inferior physique), up to 28,000 by November 23. These were mostly National Guard troops from Texas and Oklahoma, States without large cities, except San Antonio and Dallas (each about 20,000), Houston (100,000), El Paso (about 50,000), Galveston (35,000), and Oklahoma City (10,000) The population of the area is prevailingly rural (Chart 37). The frequency of the leading infectious diseases at Camp Bowie was as follows: TABLE NO. 45.-Admissions and deaths, infectious diseases, Camp Bowie, 1917. 1 Figures in parentheses indicate number of colored troops in venereal disease only. Polygon of weekly strength of Camp Bowie measured by scale on the left. -30,000 -20,000 10,000 7 14 21 28 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 |