The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 22, 1855.

LINES :41?,ASED iT FIXED !!ENTALS.

EPSOM RACES,

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Laving
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losiw f.r!ce,
Tuesday.

lum,Less
this day.

(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPR.)

50

RAILWAY PLATE.

Flageolet
Hospodar
Conspiracy
....

- _
Seven ran.
ARRlVED—Snaresbrook, Pantheon, Antoinette, and
Topsy.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE --(71112 DAY•)

The inquiry wa: resumed this morning at the usual
hour.

Dr. Andrew Smith was recalled, and his examination
was resumed by Mr. Layard—He stated that as soon as
lie heard that the army was in want of medical stores
he sent out a quantity, but not in his official capacity.
He had sees statements in the newspapers to the effect
that lint was much required at Scutari hospital, and
immediately he sent out to ascertain whether there
was any truth in these reports ; and, in reply,
received a communication from the chief apothe-
cary there to the effect that there was no want
of lint nor bandage; even after the demands
made upon those requisites by the necessities of the
wounded men from the battle of Alma. He had also
received another communication, stating that the re-
ports in the newspapers were without foundation. A
large portion of the medical stores sent out were left at
Varna, and it was no fault of the medical department
that they were not sent on to Scutari.
Mr. Layard—Are you prepared to say that no medi-
cal officer was in fault for the want of these stores ?
Dr. Smith—l can decidedly assert that such was the
case. I only regret that the medical officers did not
show more determination with the authorities in urging
upon them that if they did not afford the supplies with
more expedition and regularity they should consider
themselves relieved of all responsibility in the matter ;
and he wrote out to that effect.

Mr. Layard—What authorities do you refer to I
Dr. Smith—The transport and the military depart-
ments.

Mr. Layard—Do you know whether any remon-
strances were, in consequence, addressed to those de-
partments by the medical officers ?
Dr. Smith—Yes, over and over again.
Mr. Layard—Was any representation, to your know-
ledge, made to the Commander-in-Chief?
Dr. Smith replied that he could not say.
Examination continued—The appointment of medical
officers to superintend Scutari Hospital were made by
Dr. Hall, subject to the approval of the Commander-in-
Chief. This appointment was not a permanent one.
Whilst the officer was there he was only bead of the
hospitals for the time beingby virtue of his seniority. This
is a general regulation in the service. On his suggestion
a commission was sent out to Scutari to inquire into the
alleged mismanagement in the medical departments of the
hospital. He at first proposed it as a matter of personal
justice to himself, but the idea was afterwards adopted
and carried into effect by the War-office. That com-
mission had not power either to censure or to dismiss
individuals, but they could make representations. That
commission had sent in a report to the Government, but
he had not seen it.

Mr. Layard—To whom do you attribute the failures
hat took place in connection with the hospital at

Smyrna I

Dr. Smith—l cannot say.
Mr. Layard—Do you think that you, being the head
of the Medical Board, could throw off the responsibility
upon any indefinite persons ?
Dr. Smith—l did not throw off the responsibility. I
asked permission to do so.
Mr. Layard—Whose permission ?
Dr. Smith—Mr. Sidney Herbert's.

Mr. Layard—•Did Mr. Sidney Herbert then assume
the responsibility ?
Dr. Smith—l do not know ; I was not again con-

suited.

Mr. Loyal-I—Do you not think the public look to
you as the responsible person in such matters ?
Dr. Smith—l think the public look to me as the re-
sponsible person for a great deal too much.
Mr. Ellice—Do you know who gave instructions for
the establishment of that hospital ?
Dr. Smith—l think it was the War-office ; but I do
not know. I was not in any way consulted in reference
to that hospital, nor how it was to be carried on. I was
only desired to do ono thing, that was to provide a suf-
ficient supply of medical stoics and medical comforts ;
and I accordingly ordered, and continued to order, what
I considered sufficient to meet the wants of the patients
it contained

Mr. Roebuck—Then the answer you received from
Mr. Sidney Herbert you considered relieved you from
all responsibility ?
Dr. Smith—l certainly did.

By Mr. Eilice—He bad no written instructions or
directions with regard to the establishment of that hos-
pital, ncr had he anything whatever to do with the ap-
pointment of the medical officers. He would add one
thing, however. When he understood he had to pro-
vide medical stores, be thought there ought to be a pur-
veyor appointed at the hospital to receive and take care
of them ; and he therefore represented to the War-office
the propriety of appointing a purveyor, and one was sent
out in consequence. He (Dr. Smith), however, did not
appoint him.

Mr. Layard—Are you aware of any order having been
issued by Dr. Hall with regard to the use of chloroform
in the case of wounded men on whom it was necessary
to perform amputation ?
Dr. Smith—lt was not an order; it was simply a sug-
gestion.
Mr. Layard—Do you know that it created a painful

impression on the minds of the soldiers ?
Dr. Smith—No. lam not aware. I may say, how-
ever, that I entirely agree with Dr. Hall in the grounds
on which he recommended that chloroform should not
be used in severe operations ; and I am of opinion that
in cases of bad gunshot wounds, which render amputa-
tion necessary, the sufferer is much snore likely to sur-
vive the operation if it is performed when he is in full
possession of his senses than if he were subjected to the
additional depression which would be occasioned by the
administration of chloroform. Dr. Hall was acquainted
with the results of all the official inquiries which bad
been made on the subject of cholera, and would no doubt
have taken every precaution against that disease. In-
deed there was no medical man in the United Kingdom
who giving good advice on the sub-
ject,was m
orgraoprpe capablelingwith o fthe disease when it did break out.
Mr. Layard—Were the ambulance waggons submitted
to you before they went out ?
Dr. Smith—They were designed by myself ; and not-
withstanding the objections which have been urged
against them, I maintain that they are well adapted to
their purpose. The only objection I have to them is

their weight.
Mr. Layard—After what yon have heard and read
relative to these waggons, should you recommend a con-
tinuance of their use ?
Dr. Smith—l should.
Examination resumed.--It was the duty of the pur-
veyor at Balaklava to supply medical comforts for the
use of the sick and wounded sent to Scutari in the trans-
ports. lie believed Mr. Fitzgerald was the purveyor
there ; but he had received no reports to the effect that
the purveyor, whoever he might be, had not fulfilled his
duty hi this respect. A number of ambulance waggons
on the French plan, and a number of litters and chairs,
were about to be sent out forthwith.
The examination of Dr. Smith was still proceeding
when this report was despatched.

t iloBn. s are
all ordered to he put in an efficient state of defence.
pine
ANOTHER VICTIM OF NEW ZEALAND RIVERS.—A
vacancy has occurred in the Provincial Council by the
ip. to
death of Mr. Otterson, who appears to have been uni-
venally respected.
He was drowned in attempting
rle
cross
Ethce
LlTVDaEiraDuErriEvNere.E—s.L2TithieetojiyTdifenfeos Nov.i
flca
The old fort, about two miles from Greenock, is to be
placed in a serviceable condition, and made ready to re-
ceive a battery of guns on the Lancaster
THE NEW Win ROCKET.—The present regulation war
rocket, an invention of Sir W. Congreve, is destined, in
all probability, to go speedily out of use. The long wooden
tail-like appendage which constitutes an effective por-
tion of the missile, and without which it had no directive
flight whatever, has ever proved a sad drawback to the
general efficiency of the weapon. Congreve rockets
are most erratic in their flight, and can never be de-
pended upon for hitting a target, even of consideradle size
and at very moderate di6tances. In the new war rocket
(the invention of Mr. William Hale, and now being
extensively manufactured for our service) there is no
tail whatever, accuracy of directive flight being im-
parted by an ingenious application of the rifle prin-
ciple, the rocket undergoing rotation as it pursues its
course. Another great improvement iu the manufacture
of these rockets consists in the application of hydro-
static force instead of the monkey hammer hitherto
employed for driving the rockets with their inflammable
composition. Not only is the procesamora expeditious,
but it is also more safe, accidents having frequently oc-
curred, owing to ignition of the rocket composition by
heat developed from suddenly compressed air, the result
of monkey driving. The longest known flight of any
missile whatever has been accomplished by one of these
new rockets, being almost four miles.