over all matters relating to the sick, hospital equipment, and medical supplies in short, the general administration of the hospital department will hardly be questioned. In this connection my remarks of last year may bear repetition:

This is a condition of affairs that can not be overlooked, and the more I see of the Home the more I am impressed that there should be some central medical management to fully secure uniformity and economy, which in some instances does not now exist, and I believe that the time is now ripe for such an appointmeut.

SPANISH WAR VETERANS.

The decision of the Board of Managers that soldiers from the Spanish war shall be admitted only temporarily and conditionally, after a most rigid medical examination, appears to have disposed of this question to the satisfaction of all concerned. After being admitted to the Home, these men, many of whom are extremely young as compared with the veterans of the civil war, are kept under close observation and given frequent medical examination. As soon as their physical condition warrants it, and it is clearly apparent that they are able to take care of themselves, they are dropped from the rolls. Up to the date of inspection 343 of these men had been admitted to the several Branches of the Home, of whom 275 were present at the time of my visit.

POPULATION.

The total number of members, present and absent, at the several Branches of the Home on June 30, 1901, was 26,441, of whom 18,859 were present and 7,582 were absent. As compared with the same date of the preceding year, there was a gain at four Branches and a loss at four; but the gains exceeded the losses by 902, which represents the net gain in membership. The largest gain was at the new Danville Branch, followed in order by the Pacific, Western, and Eastern Branches. Taking the average number of members, on the rolls for the year, and the total is reported as 26,290. Of this number, 20,011 was the average present and 6,277 the average absent, and there was a total of 31,884 members cared for. The gain in the average present during the past year as compared with the preceding year was 786, and there was also a gain of 1,154 in the total number cared for. The maximum number present was reported as 21,414 and the minimum as 17,981, thus giving an extreme range of 3,433 members.

At date of inspection the civilian employees numbered 369, consisting of 273 males and 96 females. As compared with the previous year, this is an increase of 31 males and a decrease of 5 females, being a net gain of 26 employees. As the age and bodily infirmities of the inmates increase the number able to do any kind of work will necessarily diminish, and this will necessitate the employment of civilians in constantly increasing numbers.

HOUSING.

The records show a total of 120 barracks at the several Branches, and so far as reported they are occupied at all of the Branches but one by more members than they were originally intended for. The exception is at the most recently established Branch at Danville, where there is

room for more occupants. The average number of occupants per barrack in excess of what they were originally intended for ranges from 4 at the Central Branch to 74 at the Pacific. At another Branch each barrack has an excess of 46 members, and at still another there is an average excess of 17 occupants. Nearly all of the barracks have basements, and at three of the Branches some of the basements are used for sleeping purposes by the members. The number of members sleeping in places other than dormitories is reported as 2,128, or about 10 per cent of the number constantly present. Of this number, 1,215 were sleeping in attics, 472 in basements, 41 on floors, and 400 in other places not intended for that purpose. At the dates of inspection all but the Central Branch had vacant beds in barracks, the aggregate being reported as 627, and ranging from 22 at the Eastern to 310 at the Southern Branch. Generally these beds were retained for men who were absent on furlough and those sick in hospital, and will doubtless be all occupied as the winter season approaches and the furlough men return.

FOOD.

The food seemed well cooked and served. The quantity appears to be abundant and the variety all that could be desired. With a few exceptions, the dining halls and kitchens were noted for their neatness and cleanliness. The capacity of the dining halls ranges from 560 members at the Pacific to 2,044 at the Central Branch, and in no instance is the capacity sufficient to accommodate all the members at one time, the tables being set twice at seven Branches and three times The facilities seemed to be ample for receiving and taking care of the supplies as well as for cooking and serving the meals. The segregation of the aged inmates in a barrack by themselves at one of the Branches, with a diet specially adapted to their needs, has doubtless added to their general comfort and contentment. This innovation is about to be put in operation at another Branch, and it is fully expected that the results will be eminently satisfactory.

at one.

PROPERTY.

At some of the Branches the public property is marked for ready identification, and at every Branch it is reported to be all taken up on property returns as public property, returns for which are rendered at stated intervals to the president of the Board of Managers and the general treasurer. The beds and bedding were generally found in good condition. The storage facilities are not adequate in all cases, and separate storehouses should be constructed.

Under date of July 1, 1901, the president of the Board of Managers issued a printed "Schedule of property to be purchased by the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers," with rules governing the matter of open-market purchases, formal contract and agreement, action to be taken when no bids have been received, competitive bids, etc. In this schedule, property is classified under the various headings, such as current expenses, subsistence, household, hospital, etc., and its use should aid materially in bringing about uniformity in the system of accountability for public property.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Attention is again invited to the noncommissioned officers commanding companies. These have the Home rank of captain, and at some Branches they command more than 200 men. The captain exercises a general supervision over everything that pertains to his men, such as keeping an account of the clothing, looking after the police of his barrack, and mustering his men on pension days and for ceremonies. The pay for this service is from $15 to $20 per month. The duty entails a great deal of work and taxes the time and attention of one man, and it is suggested that he should have an assistant with the Home rank of lieutenant or first sergeant, and with pay at from $5 to $10 per month.

THE SICK.

The records show that during the past year the average daily number of sick was 2,295 in hospital, 888 in quarters for convalescents, and 919 in barracks or sick call. This is about 20 per cent of the average daily present. The number of patients treated during the year was reported as 26,438, which is a falling off of 899 as compared with the previous year.

There were 1,752 deaths during the year, and the average age at death was 68.42 years. Last year the average age of those passing away was less by some fifteen months, and this increased longevity may be accepted as an indication of thorough and efficient administration on the part of the medical department. The death rate per 1,000 of the average present and absent was 66.26, which is an increase of 7.39 over the previous year. The following table, showing the number of deaths, the death rate per 1,000 of the whole number cared for, and the average age at death since 1896, may be useful for purposes of comparison:

With over 4,000 daily sick, and 800 hospital employees at eight Branches of the Home, the medical department must necessarily rank high in importance, and it is a source of gratification and pleasure to be able to report that the facilities for the care of the sick have been improved somewhat during the past year. Some of the hospitals have been supplied with additional modern equipments, without which they could not be considered complete and up-to-date establishments, and all should be similarly supplied. The hospital at the Pacific Branch has been enlarged, thus relieving the crowded condition existing there; and extensive repairs were made to the one at the Central Branch, whereby its general condition and sanitation were greatly improved.

ACCOUNTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.

The examination of the records, disbursements, and accounts of the Home were carefully made. This included the general, pension, post, and special funds, and the transfers made between the different officers, making an examination of books and papers of no small proportions, which involved an aggregate of $11,502,840.01, being an increase over last year of $1,103,546.37. The following is a tabulation of the same:

This balance was all accounted for and found to be on deposit in designated United States depositories, with the exception of $23,000 in bonds, $2,740.33 on deposit, and $673.60 in cash pertaining to the special funds mentioned below, which were in vault and on deposit with the Colonial Trust Company, New York, N. Y., and small amounts in cash for the purpose of making change were kept on hand at the beer halls and stores of the several Branches.

The transactions in the special funds in custody of .the president of the Board of Managers for the period from November 10, 1900, to October 17, 1901, were as follows:

The balance, consisting of $23,000 in bonds and $2,740.33 on deposit, were in the Colonial Trust Company, New York, N. Y., and $673.60 in cash on hand.

WAR 1901-VOL 1, PT I- -35

CONCLUSION.

In concluding this report it gives me pleasure to call attention to the warm sympathy and interest taken in the affairs of the Home by the Board of Managers, whom I met again this year at the Central Branch, and also the commendable zeal of the Home officers in advancing the welfare of the host of men placed under their keeping, and nearly all exhibited diligence and earnestness in the discharge of the duties devolving upon them. I desire also to acknowledge the kind and courteous treatment accorded me by the Board of Managers, the general treasurer, and the officers generally during this tour of inspection.

Respectfully submitted.

THOS. T. KNOX, Lieutenant-Colonel, Inspector-General.

The INSPECTOR-GENERAL, UNITED STATES ARMY.