Impact of Epidemics on Military Life

Camp Devens has about 50,000 men, or it did before the epidemic broke loose. The epidemic started about four weeks ago, and has developed so rapidly that the camp is demoralized and all ordinary work is held up till it has passed. All assemblages of soldiers are taboo. We have been averaging about 100 deaths a day, and still keeping it up. The normal number of doctors here is about 25 and that has been increased to over 250, all of whom have temporary orders. The little town nearby is quite a sight. It takes special trains to carry away the dead. For several days there were no coffins and the bodies piled up something fierce. We used to go down to the morgue and look at the boys laid out in rows. It beats any sight they ever had in France after a battle. And you can imagine what the paperwork alone is—fierce—and the Government demands all paperwork be kept up in good shape. So you can see that we are busy.