Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-16
SUGGESTIONS FOR THB MEDICAL STAFF OF TIE
ARAY
HANOVER CouSrY Va,
Sept 6.h, 1861.


HANOVER CoUxrY Va,
Sept oh, 1861.
To The Editor Of The Wig:
Having no acquaintance with any OF our officials and
presuming that opinions volunteered by an obscure
country physician would be esteemed ofic:ous inter
meddrg ask brief space in the Wig for the publ.
cation OF the ouints of plan for the orr aszion Of
the medical stiff Ct cur army am impelled 10 this
step by the highest considerations of Lu1any No ere
is mere willing than the writer to accord the highest
need praise to President Davis, Governor L,tch,r
and oihers for ;h1 amazing efficiency which army
has attained through heir unrDg bors But the very
amount Of labor has been the of great ot
efficiency in department. the management Of which
has necessarily been entrusted 10 many dfrent persons
in dfTen! States. But since the Conitde Goscru
ment held epousibe for the health Of solders
they should be bold the direction aud appoint
ment OF the medical staf who TO superintend the
hygiene and therapeutics Of the army.
i Whether from ignorance Indifference, tho want O:
meanl kpo1 no., but from csuse there has been
great wsn Of efficiency in the medical ssif oi ths 1T
my. Wounded men, suffering great rein, and sui cted
to the dp'essiog effects Of volsnt eonuons and acei.
aors from wounds received in battle, have passed Lun
thus died. whose wounds had been dressed. Others
have bcen rePused by heir attending Surgeons as
to be driven through selfrespec. and repect the
service, 10 dag ont m,st miserable eIs for DAYS
rather than he insul,ed By the ard Arrogant ca
of tho medical men. o.hers within the certain know
edge of the writer, have beea subjected systems Of
medication, which cannot be justified by auy prrcihs
within the range Of raioual, experimental me dicne
Such instances OF n' Hiceney doubtless unknown TO
the orly sutho'iies who would remedy them Ntr
could they ferret them out without system which
would place al upon equal footing and put beyond
all possibility the appointment of army surgeon be.
cause he was friend, relation, or active political
trumpoter OF prominent rcrscn, who by some TO
tuna,e combination, OF bir,h, NAME weAlh or political
influence, may have gained part Of authority. We
need Of science, Of high neral character of uy.
bending integrity CT Industry and energy aud CT much
practical knowledge to guard and the health of
our brave volunteers. An army composed Of loved
brohsls, and fathers, aud sons from the lap Of luxury
refinement and learning, must necessarily pine aud die
under the fuenoe Of dis the inbospabls tent
when the o. y salua'ion received from the guardian
whom for the time has been iniIus.ed their lives h
fondest hop, Of love ones, far away il, the d-md
sick"-"c-d sick" accompanied with a roughness at
o2ce inhuman and stupid. To rsmedy these evil,
wach startling the inhabitants Of the whole Conf,d
eracy, suggest, basis OF oferations this plan
Surgeon General, with the rank Of Brigader G,n
,ra ard four Assis'ans with the rank OF Colone shall
compose tho chief Medical Bureau located in Richmond
This Bureau shall provide medicines surgical nstrume ns
and dressings ombulnces ttors and have the appoint
| NJ and
II.
Each Divon shall have a Surgeon and Physician
with the rank Of Colonel appointed by tie Genital b.
reau who shall order all the medical aud surgca
appliances from the Central Bureau aid the Geuersl
commanding in the selection Ct camps seec the lota
tions for hospitals inspect the management of the ssme
snd remove oil unworthy medical officers, by and With
the consent of the Brigade Medical 0oers ard apo mt
| those Ciic,rs.
Each Brigade shall be supplied with Surgeon and
Physician with tee rsrk Of LeutC Colo aud two
Asstsnts with the rank of MSor. the last two TO be
appointed by the first two.
".
Each Regiment shall b. supplied with Surgeon, with
the rank of Mor and two Assistants with the rank Of
Captain. The frst 10 be appointed by the Division
StaH upon the daon Of the Brigade Staff and
the las: two upon the recommendation of the Regiment
Surgeon and Brigade Staff
SPECIFICATIONS
The Central Bureau to be appointed by the Pr ent
they to appoint the Division Medical Staff only after
a thorough EXAMINATION of their qualifications The D
vision Ste n to appoint the Brigade Staff only after an
examination, &c And the Assistants OF Brigade Sur
geons AID Physicians and the Regaental Staff to be re
qnred to pass an examination before the Division and
Brigade Staff before their appointment And in order 10
promote the efficiency of the Medical ccrps le the d.
vision aud Brigade medical officers be at appointed
as above, and require all subordnstes to undergo
animation as soon as possibe-those rtjusiry TO be
discharged-thosc passing, TO be c'nfrmed.
V.
For each division Of the Army there shall be genera
hospals-one for fever paleLts, the other fer td
wounded.
Each R,gmenta Slrge)n besiaes bis Assit tant shall
bs supplied with ) Ais-pot n'cassrily rhys clans
with the rank Of ssrgeln and ore double, or two smaller
ambalanees one double preferable. DARN, battle the
Assistants accompanied by four aids with Litters, ST II
closely foow their Regiments, and bear the led to
the Ambulance be carried to the Brigade Hospital by
the remaining Aid, accompanied by the Surgeon. One
Assistant to occupy suitable place Of deposit, ani afford
such aid as the wounded may Immediately qnire, and
aid in placing them in the Ambulhce.
VII.
The BRIGADE Medical ssf shall rfmsn at the Brigade
HOSPITAL and operate on and dress thewounded as they
arrive.
During battle the Division Medical sAG should visit
each Hospital in their ds-eniBrgades and distribute
the medical staff, o, necessity may require.
| TX.
There should bs connected with each Division large
ambulance fully provided with all Iece'saries, which
should follow the army, in case the battle should be
Tough. at distance from any Hospital in o6er that all