Makeshift hospital in Golden Gate Park. Photo Courtesy of The Museum of the City of San Francisco

On Thursday, April 19th Lieutenant-Colonel G.A. Torney, Chief Surgeon of the Army's Department of California and commanding officer of the Army General Hospital at the Presidio sent a telegram to Washington, D.C. which read: "Medical Supply Depot was destroyed totally." Earthquake damage to the U.S. Army General Hospital at the Presidio was estimated at $75,000 (1906 dollars). Medical stores destroyed or used totaled $357,391.

Torney requested supplies of gauze, cotton and rubbing alcohol from the U.S. Surgeon General. Torney also noted that the Presidio post hospital and a field hospital had opened and were accepting any civilian patients in need of care. Captain J.M. Kennedy, commanding officer of the General Hospital, acknowledged earthquake damage to the building, but added the hospital was soon running well, treating over a thousand patients in the first weeks after the earthquake. Caring for civilians did little to affect the military hospital according to Kennedy, "We are keeping female patients here now, but outside of that one feature, this hospital is settled back to its normal functioning order." Under Lieutenant-Colonel Torney's direction, 26 Army dispensaries were also established throughout the city to provide free medial services to citizens.

Patients at the temporary Golden Gate Park Hospital.

In the week following the earthquake, the Army constructed Field Hospital No.1 in Golden Gate Park. In his report to the War Department, Captain T. Gilchrist describes his medical company's journey from Washington D.C. transporting supplies for the hospital. In the park, they erected the hospital tents, dug the ditches, and arranged for laundry, medical, and food supplies for the fourteen tent wards. Gilchrist wrote: "Hardly had the formation of the hospital been decided upon before patients commenced to be sent in from the near refugee camps, temporary hospitals in stores, churches, etc. throughout the city." Over 5,000 patients were treated in the hospital and Gilchrist estimated that in the operating tent "an average of 50 dressings were made daily, most of which were burns, fractures and wounds in general." The majority of the patients were women and children and Gilchrist requested White Cross Society female nurses to assist the medical corps men. The hospital wards consisted of 18 beds each, including a maternity ward. The whitewashed kitchens, Gilchrist proudly noted were "the subject of much comment from the many visitors on account of their clean appearance." By early June, "the health conditions in the city and refugee camps became greatly improved," and Field Hospital No. 1 was gradually dismantled.

Water purification unit at hospital in Deer Park.

The Army was very aware and concerned about the possibility of epidemic disease (see Relief Efforts). Under General Orders No. 12, which created six military districts in the city, sanitation issues were also addressed. Violations of "the slightest degree" would be "a crime that could have no adequate punishment." In Golden Gate Park, the army established the 120-bed Pavilion Hospital exclusively as a typhoid fever hospital. However, once the threat of an epidemic had passed, the facility was converted to a regular field hospital.

The isolated Harbor View Hospital, on the grounds of a target range, was also set up for typhoid treatment. On May 7th, the San Francisco Call reported that Harbor View Hospital had plans to accommodate as many as 336 typhoid cases. The San Jose Sunday Mercury and Herald announced: "Typhoid fever, as a result of unsanitary conditions, has made its appearance." The Army, however reported Harbor View patients were being treated for measles and diphtheria. Apparently, the only typhoid outbreak was fabricated in newspaper pages. An April 22nd letter to a San Francisco doctor from a San Jose relief committee chairman blames the newspapers for "unnecessarily exciting the people." The chairman then goes on to explain his reasons for denying the doctor's request for a vaccine: "I appreciate the fact that you are anxious to be among the first to obtain your supply and commend you for your efforts but suggest that you do first missionary work with the newspapers and attempt to get a more cheerful aspect put on conditions as they exist at present."

The Army had the supplies, manpower, expertise and the authority to confront the medical emergencies caused by the earthquake, fire and aftermath of thousands homeless. The sanitation regulations may have caused confusion in the newspapers, but the medical corps efficiently cared for the injured and prevented contagious epidemics from decimating a shattered city.