Communicable Diseases, Table of Contents
PREFACE
The subject matter of this volume, which, for the most part,comprises the more important communicable diseases that concerned the Army andparticularly the Medical Department during the World War, is arranged so as toconsider, first, a statistical analysis and then the usual aspects of each ofthe diseases (diagnosis, treatment, etc.). In so far as the statistical analysisis concerned, a dichotomous table for each disease, or group of diseasescomprising a chapter, forms a basis for subsidiary tables where these have beenthought desirable. The basic tables show, for purposes of analysis, strength,and admissions, deaths, and noneffectiveness, not only in absolute numbers butalso in rates per 1,000 strength. In addition, the incidence of the diseasesconsidered is given geographically and by race. Where it is desirable,additional tables show urban and rural distribution; local prevalence, as in alarge command or at a particular station; comparative incidence of certaindiseases in the United States Army and in foreign armies.
As explained in Part Two of Volume XV of this history, thenumber of admissions does not represent the total case incidence. This is due tothe fact that, in finally compiling all data on the sick and wounded cards inthe Surgeon General's Office, it did not prove practical to record among theadmissions all diseases coexisting at time of admission, or diseases occurringas complications while a case was on sick report. Instead, coexisting andcomplicating diseases were tabulated separately. Since the basic tables of thechapters of this volume, of necessity, comprise primary admissions only, theymust be viewed in the light of the above explanation. In conjunction with them,however, additional tables show the number of cases recorded, among enlisted menin the United States and Europe, as concurrent diseases, complications andsequel?, thus approximating the total number of cases.
Every effort was made in the Surgeon General's Office, incompiling vital statistics, to charge to original cases the places and times ofoccurrence, all discharges for disability, time lost, and deaths. This was doneto facilitate computing case fatality, percentage of cases discharged fordisability, and the amount of time lost for each character of case. Thus isexplained attributing to such a disease as measles, for example, deaths whichwere in fact due to complicating bronchopneumonia.
Chapter XXII, concerning decisions as to the line of duty ofdisabilities, originally was intended for another volume of this history. Thoughit does not in any sense consider a disease, or a group of diseases, solely fromthe professional viewpoint, nevertheless it concerns diseases principally andthus more appropriately forms a part of this volume.
aFor the purpose of the History of the Medical Department of the United States Army in the World War, the period of war activities extends from April 6, 1917, to December 31, 1919. In the professional volumes, however, in which are recorded the medical and surgical aspects of the conflict as applied to the actual care of the sick and wounded, this period is extended, in some instances, to the time of the completion of the history of the given service. In this way only can the results be followed to their logical conclusion.
