IX. REPORT OF AN INSPECTION OF CAMP ORD, SECOND BRIGADE, NATIONAL GUARD OF PENNSYLVANIA.

By J. L. STEWART, M. D.

Dr. BENJAMIN LEE,

ERIE, PA., August 20, 1888.

Secretary State Borrd of Health:

In accordance with your orders of July 23, I visited Camp Ord of the Second brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania, on the 13th day of August, and carefully inspected the same, and report as follows:

The location of the camp met the requirements of military hygiene as to topography, but the soil being clay and recently cultivated, was muddy on the surface after rains, which were frequent during the encampment.

The drainage was deficient, indeed almost entirely overlooked.

The camp equipage was good and sufficient. The water was excellent, and, both as to quantity and quality, entirely satisfactory. It was pumped from Conneaut lake, and distributed through iron pipes to every part of the camp. No improvement could have been made on this important department of a military camp.

Commissary department. The food supplies were all good,the coffee, sugar, bread, fresh and salt meats of the very best quality. In the entire commissary department there was nothing found that would justify an unfavorable criticism.

Sinks.-The officers' sinks were well constructed and in good condition. The company sinks were generally badly constructed and deficient, except those of the Fourteenth and Sixteenth regiments. That of the Fourteenth was exceptionally well located and constructed, and of the Sixteenth quite satisfactory.

The kitchen sinks were all in bad condition and unfit for the purpose for which intended. One difficulty was that they were all dug in clay ground, when there was "hard pan" but a short distance below the surface. Their walls were impervious, and did not allow the fluids to drain off through the soil, but remained to decompose with the other offal from the kitchen. Barrels or other vessels should be furnished each kitchen for the reception of all garbage, and then removed to some remote spot at least twice daily. The shortness of time which the encampment lasted alone prevented sickness from this cause.

I would suggest that a camp for a body of soldiers as large as that of a brigade, should be prepared in advance of the encampment by a cheap underground" drainage, and that the ground should not be tilled for a year preceding such use.

The health of the command was remarkably good. Out of three thousand and twenty officers and men present, there were but six on the sick list," and relieved from duty on the day of my visit.

I was kindly received by General Wiley, the commandant of the camp, and am under obligations to him and the members of his staff for polite attention.

I have the honor to be,

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. L. STEWART, M. D., Inspector of Lake District.

X. REPORT OF AN INSPECTION OF CAMP PHIL SHERIDAN.

Dr. B. LEE,

By WILLIAM B. ATKINSON, M. D.

July 27, 1888.

Secretary and Executive Officer State Board of Health: DEAR SIR: In response to your instructions, on the 26th inst., I visited Camp Phil Sheridan, at Mt. Gretna, Lebanon county. I was most courteously received by General Gobin, commander, Surgeon General Reid and Brigade Surgeon W. H. Egle. The latter gave me most efficient aid in my inspection by accompanying me, and together we carefully and thoroughly examined everything appertaining to the encampment.

There were 2.537 officers and men in the camp, belonging to the Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth and Thirteenth regiments, together with Battery C and the Governor's Troop.

The ground, as described in my report of last year, is most admirably located, and is in every respect an ideal site for a camp. The water supply is abundant and of excellent quality. The reservoir contains 5,200 gallons, which is distributed by pipes to hydrants in every portion of the camp. In fact it would appear that the supply was so abundant that in every direction it was found necessary to cut gutters in order to drain off the waste. The artificial lake on the edge of the camp is of great value for bathing, etc., and was freely used at the hours allotted for that purpose. The drainage has been most carefully attended to, the brigade surgeon having made this a special point in the preparation of the camp.

The supply of clothing and food was ample, appropriate for the vicissitudes of the weather, and of excellent quality. In every quarter where I found the cooking going on. the utmost care was shown in its proper performance, Dr. Egle and his aids fully recognizing its importance as a hygienic measure.

I was given the opportunity of examining the hospitals, and found them properly ready for any emergency.