Sick Call

Sick Call. Fort Davis Post Hospital. , 2nd Lieutenant Robert Safford , Troop C, 10th U.S. Cavalry , In July 1879, the young lieutenant came down with dysentery, an infection of the lower intestines that produces severe diarrhea, pain, and fever. He was scouting for Mescalero Apaches in the Guadalupe Mountains, northwest of Fort Davis., Private George Chapman , Company K, 16th U.S. Infantry , He suffered a hernia while loading logs in December 1883. The injury involved a bulge in the muscles of his abdominal wall., Private Albert J. Meesick , Troop A, 10th U.S. Cavalry , He was kicked in the knee by a horse on December 2, 1883, and sustained a serious contusion, or bruise, of the left knee., Mrs. Katharine Cochran , wife of the Post Commander, Lt. Colonel Melville Cochran , She suffered from indigestion on May 22, 1889 and requested treatment from the Post Surgeon., Centennia America Williamson , daughter of Hospital Steward L.H.L. Williamson , Almost five years old, Centennia America contracted diphtheria - a highly contagious and very serious disease. She was born in 1876 and was probably named in honor of our country's 100th birthday., When the Bugler Sounded "Sick Call" in the morning, sick and injured soldiers reported to the post hospital., Ahead of you is the post hospital, where the well-trained Post Surgeon and his staff treated enlisted men, officers, dependents, and civilian employees., Can you imagine the kind of medical treatment patients received in the 19th century? Here are the cases of five who lived at this fort., How Were These Patients Treated? Did they survive their illnesses or injuries? Walk up to the Post Hospital to learn the rest of their stories.