The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-10-28
By THE MAILS.
WARRINGTON, Oct. IS,

WAsHINoTos, Oct. IS, ls47.
Gen. Shisids-7ne Medical StcF of the Army.
The Union of Saturday evening contains letter pur-
porting to be written by Brgadsr General Jas Shields
Of the United States army in vindcaon Of his surg
cal attendant. DR.. Mcmillan from implied imputa
ton on bis professional skill and experience contained
in one OF nv letters to the Herald well under
stand the sad rregularity Of the mails that Gen
Shields may not receive complete file Of the Herald,
and that therefore he may not be aware that this
has done more any other in the country to shield
the medical staff of the army from the undsserv
ed osusurs likely attach to it. by the temporary &C
osssion ranks Of many incompetent and unskfu
persons and that this Justice has ben done mainly
through the medium of the Galvisnsis letters.
After the battle Of Csrro Gordo numerous complaints
were made to department of the incapacy and
unsklfuluess ofmany medical men temporarily attach
cd to the army. Letters were received stating that
whole regiments had refused to be treated by their own
surgeons General Patterson after his return from
Mexico made formal application to the Secretary Of
War 10 have board Of examiners organized at the
heaquartsrs the army for the purpose Of subectns
TO q thorough examination, all those who were not OF
the medical staff Of the old army The glazing inoom
petenoy of Of those recently appointed by the
caused serious dissatisfaction in the army
At this time there classes Of medical In
the srmy-ths medical stat Of the old army the sur
Reons Of volunteer regiments the surgeons Of the
ten new regiments, and surgeons hired by the month
The nrst oftbese the only qualified under the
law of Congress Of 1885, and having been examined by
an impartial board, regularly organized and whose
standard qualification very high Of course
beyond all suspicion of incompetency or unskulness
or this GLASS Of army medical oaoers the Herald has
never spoken but in Of the warmsst praise The
other three casses were appointed without previous
animation and therefore open to suspicion Of incapa
cty Unfortunately this suspicion turned in many
cases into a lamentabe certainty. Many Of these
officers are Of Acknowledged ability-many Of them
fat nov 40 notorious that General Shields himself
AYERS IL 30 orous after the battle of Cerro Gordo
that the in command In that action not without
the concurrenoe of the commanding general earnestly
y-d the Secretary Of War to adept measure that
would rid the army Of all the quacks and bungers.
Knowing these facts-hearing numerous complaints
the subj that the lives Of our soldiers
valuable to be eopardized by the unskfu treatment
of those incapable practitioners who had crept into the
army under the order Of things without merit
ability spoke out the subject 1t was Of great
importance and every press in the country very pro
perry echoed the complaint
But il seems that did injustice to the surgical atten
About six weeks after the General had received his
wound news from Vera Cruz that the surgeon In
attendance had at length found after the lapse Of
what better than a month, that the patient had two
ribs broken and 1t was further stated that this injury
which had given him great uneasiness, and which
till then undiscovered having been attended to- he
greatly relieved In consequences. This statement
copied into every paper In the country that is in the
habit Of publishing the news from the army. Having no
reason to doubt It's accuracy than had doubt
the accuracy Of the account Of the TALL Of Vera Of
having been woun instanced IL as one among other
facts going prove the lamentabe incapacty of many
Of the medical practitioners temporarily attached
army The statement was not mine-I never make
which be contrsdicted II had been true IL would
have been nconrovertibe proof Of the incapscty Of
General shields surgical attendant. That 1t was not
true, can be better pleased than myself was
not aware until yesterday, who Gen Shields sur
reon nor had been SO rtunate as to see any mention
nr La n ma an NJ m he