Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-13
SURGEON BEAUMONT.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday,
whilst the Army Appropriation Bill was under
discussion
Mr.. EVERETT moved an additional clause
RI the bill including 81 S25 for Surgeon Beau
mont for performing a series of experiments on
the stomach of a wounded soldier, In illustration
of the process of digestion. The appropriation
had been recommended by the Surgeon Gene
raj. Allowances were made to officers OF the
Line for extra services, but this could not be
done to Surgeons unless by express provision.
Mr. POLK protested ignorance OF the suDJecL
and suggested that it would be better TO nave
this provided for in separate bill.
Mr.. EVERETT said his motion was made by
order of the Joint Library Committee OF both
Houses and the measure was recommended py
the Surgeon General and approved by the head
of the War Department.
Mr.. JONES objected to the appropriation,
though small in amount. establishing dan
gerous principle. The officer had not been Or
dered to make these experiments, and Congress
might as well remunerate student for his stu
dies
Mr. EVERETT replied, that this soldier had
been placed under the care Of Surgeon Beau
mont and he had expended upwards of $4,000
out of his own pocket, in the process of mea-
sures by which his life had been saved and pro-
longed He might, no doubt, have left the man
to die but because he acted, first from humanl-
ty, and then from the love of science, and had
thereby succeeded, not only in saving his pa
tent but in presenting the most curious and va
! luable results in aid Of the great objects OF the
surgical department of the army was he to be
refused such pittance as this when it was re-
commended by the head of the Surgical Staff
| Mr.. McDUFFIE suggested that possibly the
gentleman from Georgia had not examined the
results of Surgeon Beaumont's investigations
as published to the world he himself considered
| them as the most valuable gift that had ever
been presented to physiological science, and
| highly honorable to the country. He was no,
disposed to go into any nice constitutional ques-
| tons in agreeing to an item Of this kind. He
| thought the money well deserved, and should
vote for the amendment.
| Mr. Chiffon expressed his hearty concur
renCe;in these views. The House voted thou
sands upon thousands to reward persons who
had killed men; but in this case, not only had
the life of a man been preserved, but facts dis
covered and plans suggested, which might lead
to the saving Of millions OF human lives:
Mr.. JONES explained; admitted he had not
examined the work, but had seen it, and knew
its general nature from seeing it advertised. He
considered the experiments as having been
made by Surgeon Beaumont for his own bene-
| fit and Improvement, and that of science gene
rally, but not in discharge Of any part of his du-
ty to the United States, employed by Gov
| eminent. w as the government 10 pay lOI cX-
periments it had not ordered? AS to saving the
mans life, that was duty Of humanity, from
which no surgeon in the country would have
| abstained, ifin his power. But was this House
to pay this individual for his humanity? Was
that proper ground Of appropriation? This
surgeon was paid by the month, and had fixed
rations Was not all he had done included in
the duty for which he was paid?
| Mr.. CROCKETT rose. Gentlemen objected
| to paying for experiments; hut in these days
when we were trying experiments On the cur
| rency, why not try experiments on the sciences?
| Though, for his part, he thought it was hardly
necessary to make any appropriations at all, tor
this or any thing else He had been almost
| ready to 90 against all appropriation bills, till
| he knew where the money was. If one man in
the country could take all the money, what was
| the use Of passing any bills about it, 1t was
mockery-it was chldish-to sit there and APP
propriate at ALL Ifone man could take the mo-
ney, and put it where the law had not placed IT,
how did the House know where it was? How
could they tell but it might be in his royal ma
iestys pocket, or in the pocket Of that imp Of
famine, his Fourth Auditor2 The money was
not where the law put it, and who knew where
it was? He would vote for one experiment, but
he should for certain vote against the other.
The question was now put and the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. EVERETT agreed to-ayes
so, noes So.
The bronze colossal statue of Jefferson from