Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-30

u
very Important son hsr 6ss1pess discharge Of
her duty depends much of the success oi medical
5 treatment Negroes are generally fataliss and bet
+ lese that every has his time appointed to- die,
and If itbe = GOMEZ they expect 70 die and, not
+ they will get we'll without medicine. E0ften hive
found them under conviction that they were to die,
ana resisting medicine useless or fapc1ing under
pressing symptoms that they would resaySr with
out taking any-and imperative treatment depend
ing on the aitbfulness of the NURSE absolutely re-
qured TO be rigidly enforced. Frequently have 1
found the patients bed turned from its position of
the day before in order that he might die " with
his face towards the rising sum-" and often have
had it restored and informed them that their time
had not come to go home," as they call it. This is
essential to relieve the mind from the depressing in
fuence of the expectation of death, and to procure
the inspiring advantage of hope which cheers the
heart and exerts important curative effects. An in
tegent nurse soon learns to appreciate necessity
of her authority, and to exercise it.
On all the plantations that have attended, l
have always directed any diet that might be needed;
Columbia. Brandy wine is constantly demand
ed, and if not on the place is procured by my order
wherever please and charged to the owner. Often
have known COL Hampton send to sick negro,
Sherry or Madeira of quality seldom found on sale
he dispensed it literally when required In rela-
tioSto my lamented friend, I may be allowed to
say, that he once received a letter from young
physician Offering to reside on bis plantations for
moderate salary, to attend to bis people-his reply
to him was, that his own family physician must be
the physician to them. This IS general.
In the hygiene of the plantations there is much
cleanliness required and the houses whitewash-
ed and abundantly supplied with wood in cold
weather. Several teams are constantly employed
on the large plantations to supply fuel, negroes
bear cold badly. The risk of fire, especially with
children induces the generally of wooen cloth
ing; bu: in summer often osnaburgs is the material
mostly supplied. Where pneumonia, the most fatal
of all disease among negroes, is apt to prevail fan.
mel shirts are frequently distributed and wooden
stockings to the females. Experience shows that
their use with good blankets and abundant fuel are
the best means of diminishing the prevalence of this
disease on the river swamp plantations, where it is
usually seen in its worst form.
There is no class of working people in the world
better cared for than the Southern slave-and in
childhood or old age there is no difference shown. I
have often received large fee for surgical opera
ton on superannuated or useless negro, when hu-
manity dictated it to relieve suffering, or for the
moval OF cataract to allow old age the precious pri-
vilege of restoration to sight have the
mistress give the same attention habitually to the
sick negro child as to her own, and sit up all night
to see that it was not neglected. This. however, is
not confined to the plantations, but may be seen at
any time in our villages and towns.
Within the past fifteen years, religious services
have been introduced generally on the plantations
in this district, and in many instances the owners
of ministers Of the Gospel to preach and give in
struction to their people. 1t is very common for
the young ladies Of the household to have classes
on Sunday Of the children well grown negroes,
to whom they give oral instruction, texts Of scrip
ture and hymns
The kindness in sickness in seeing after the com.
forts of these dependant beings, strong at
tachment from early childhood towards their mas
tiers and mstresses; and this grows with their
growth and strengthens with their strength. Sick.
ness OF the latter, any members of the family is
much source of solicude and distress to the
former as among their own families: and death is
greater grief to them, they rarely the loss
of their own children while their of submission
from childhood to their earthly master no donbt
practically influences that to the providence of God
they feel the privaton of comforts that the master
or mistress dispenses. l have seen far greater ex.
hbiton Of real feeling at the loss of young master
or mistress than at the loss of members of their
own family.
AS to another branch of medical treatment A
working woman who goes into lying in hospital in
Europe for her confinement, is usually dismissed on
the eighth day-on our plantations month is al
lowed before any service is required and then the
mother returns to the quarters several times during
the day to sucke the infant which is left in the care
of an elderly nurse, who has others to take Of
When the child is two three months old is car
ried into the field to the mother by the child nurse,
the children from seven to twelve thirteen years,
being used as nurses. When negroes are in weakly
health. they sometimes make good shepherds; or
recovering from sickness, they usually put at
some light service, such as shocking and Smelling
corn, making Clothes or spinning, &C., until well
enough for field work, and in wet and bad weather
they are given some indoor occupation.
In addition to the regular allowance of bacon,
meal, and molasses, with at some seasons potatoes,
all who disposed to be industrious have gardens
and poultry, which sources of comfort well
as Of profit. Eggs and chickens supplied by
them in large numbers to their owners, who pay
them their full value, or to neighbors. I have
Gently purchased two hundred and fifty bushels of
corn from the negroes of one plantation in my care,
and the overseer has just informed that there is
as much more for me. have known a single ne
gro receive one hundred and twenty dollars, for his
years crop of corn and fodder, raised by mis- own
labor, when his own task had been done.
l have written you rather discursive letter cur
rente calamo, but trust it will give you idea Of
the treatment on our Congaree. Very sincerely
yours, ROBERT w. GIBBS, M. d.
Gov R. F. w. ALLsroN.
A WELL KNOWN Charlottesville. Everett, in his
oln lead loliv in