Florida and the Spanish-American War of 1898

Documents

Chief Surgeon Frank W. Headley to Governor William D. Bloxham

From: Correspondence of Governor William D. Bloxham (Series 578, Box 15, Folder 7)

This letter is from the official correspondence of Governor William D. Bloxham in his second term, from 1897-1901. Bloxham guided the state through the Spanish-American War, a conflict which called for an unusual degree of participation from Florida. During the war, more soldiers died from disease than from battle wounds.

In this letter to Governor Bloxham, Chief Surgeon Frank W. Headley gives a report on the status of the Isolation Hospital for measles patients, near the Amelia Lighthouse.

Headley

[Enclosure, Carpenter to Bloxham, 8/16/98.]

Office of Chief Surgeon
3rd Division, 4th Army Corps
Fernandina, Fla. Aug 16/ 98

Assistant Adjutant General,
3rd Division, 4th Army Corps

Sir:
I have the honor to report as follows in reference to the Isolation Hospital for measles patients, situated near the Amelia Lighthouse.

This hospital was established August 1st and within a week had received eighty-five patients suffering from measles. At the same time the Second Division Hospital was receiving patients rapidly from every incoming Regiment, until it contained an additional sixty patients.

All these patients coming in so rapidly exhausted completely the supply of furniture and medicines provided, and the very limited facilities for purchases in this city prevented their immediate procurement, and although we telegraphed and wrote for needed supplies, it took several days before they began to come in, and as very much had to be secured in Philadelphia, New York and St. Louis, there was for some time a regrettable lack of accommodations.

The necessary medicines were procured from day to day in this city, and the food was provided, so that there has been no suffering for lack of these.

 

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Cots could not be provided as they were not to be found in the stores. They were added by purchase and by donations from charitable citizens as fast as they could be secured and finally the supply sent by the Surgeon General arrived from New York, so that on the evening of Saturday Aug. 13th every patient in all our Hospitals was on a cot and comfortable.

There are twelve nurses on duty in the Measles Hospital. The first day four nurses were provided, and their number has been increased with the increase of patients.

We have given every possible attention and care to the sick. The worst cases were on cots from the beginning, the cases of lesser severity being left until their cots could be procured.

None of the measles cases have suffered from any of their discomforts, and of the more than one hundred cases of that disease treated only one has died, his death being due not to that disease but to a cerebral complication, probably embolism, which suddenly [illegible - possibly "surfaced"] when he was convalescent.

The situation of the Isolation Hospital is near the Salt Marsh but elevated probably fifteen feet above it. It is as high as the general level of land in this vicinity.

Very respectfully, Frank W. Headley
Chief Surgeon 3rd Divis 4th A.C.

 

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