The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-08-22
LETTERS FROM .sTHE DOCTOR,

August 9th, 1861.
D To TIE FRIENDS AT HONE:
g l have a little leisure this afternoon
and have concluded again to have it'll,
t talk with you. Nothing of any import
ancc has transpired since I wrote 20,
last unless it is the adjournment of Con
gress. In many respects the late extr'
session of Congress has been one of tn,
most momentous in the history of oul
country. 1t is pleasant fact too that
Notwithstanding the exciting questions
before both branches of Congress, they
were able to adjourn with so much good
will and SO amicably. Everything is quiet
here and were it not for soldiers we see
continually one would scarcely imagine
that we were so near the seat of war
We have not near SO much apprehension
of danger here as many of our friends
have for US, who are far, far from here
The wounded from Bull Run have near.
Iy all left-either having joined their
regiments again or gone home on fur
Tough. Still our Hospital is as full as it
can be with sick, and the question natu.
rally arises, why are there so many on
the sick list? shall try to answer this
question in few respects at least.
In the first place the recruiting officers
arc too eager to have companies aud regi-
mcnts filled up, and take too many who
are totally unable to play soldiers part
in the great schedule of war. The
very strongest and most able bodied men
alone are fit to make efficient soldiers
There is no life so hard, no class of men
Lave to endure SO many privations and
hardships, and none so poorly cared for
as the soldier. The American soldier
though has it much easier than that of
any other nation. Many are received
who have deformities and infrmities and
are carried away with the glitter and par.
aphernalia of soldiers dress, or who are
lovers Of romance, or who may even be
inspired by the higher and holier mo-
tives Of patriotism. One or two heavy,
drenching rainy seasons or forced march.
cs, without their accustomed food and
comforts, and they are disheartened, nay
worse-sick. There is nothing that 50
much retards the progress or cripples the
efficiency of an army as heavy sick list
1t has dreadful bad moral effect, since
every we'll man not knowing the cause of
his comrades sickness imagines he will be
the next one and hence becomes discour.
aged. 1t is surprising what a great
amount of courage will sometimes ooze
out from a very small sickness or wound.
We who are in hospitals have the best
kind of opportunities for making such
observations.
Then too there are so many entering
the army who are altogether too young
to do efficient service. We have them
in hospital now -, lG, II, &C., years Of
age. Their physique is not sufficiently
developed to enable them to endure the
hardships of soldiers life.
Then again many enter who are com.
para'ively feeble, but who would get
along we'll if they received TIE care they
could and ought to have. l find that
many come in who become subjects for
the hospital because of the imprudcnce
of their commanders. An instance to
the point occurred only two or three days
ago. The 10th Pennsylvania Regiment
had been cncamped for some time on
Capitol Hill in Washington. They were
ordered to change their camping grounds
to Georgetown Heights-fvc miles dis
tant. There was no urgency in the case
and their colonel had the choice of time.
Instead of starting early in the morning
or late in the evening as he should have
done, he selects the middle of tho day,
which proved to be very warm and %.
pressive day, The consequence was that
several hundred gave entirely out and
fell out Of the ranks to rest themselves
and others were brought into the hospital
lnsensible from sun stroke This is not
solitary instance, but they occur 60 fire.
quently that the hospital became so
crowed as to be unserviceablc to those
who have need of hospitalaccommodation
from proper military duty.
In addition TO the other causes arc had
food' unsuitable clothing, sleeping need
lessly on the damp ground without straw
or proper sanitary precautions, and last
though not least, long forced marches
"double .quicking" great distances with
out sufficient water, food, or rest. Espe-
cially if such marches are uncalled for.
Then again soldiers themselves are
criminally negligent of their health, and
indulge in raw fruits and violate every
law Of hygiene.
There is a good deal Of playing the
! sold soldier" in hospitals great many