Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-13
The Medical Staff.


correspondence of the Richmond Examiner. Our
army has suffered severely, unnecessarily so, and
the medical staff have been blamed. Perhaps the
true answer to the following enquiries will reveal
the fact that the surgeons are not deserving of the
censure cast upon them. If the government will
undertake as 1t ought to do, to have the cooking
and washing Of the army done for it by competent
persons, We venture the assertion it will be saving
to the CommSSary Department of one-third, and to
the health and lives Of our brave men, one-half:
To the EIitor Of tie Examiner:
Having Of late noticed several articles in the Rich
moad newspapers, severely rejecting upon the medi
cal sta1 attached to the army of the Potomac, ind
having in vain waited to some reply to the afore
said articles induced to ask for space in your
Journal for short communication.
would ask these army heGlM makers to answer
satisfactorily the following questions:
/. Has the disease and mortality in the army of
the Potomac been greater than any other army
similarly situated?
.. Are the hvgeinic regulations of the army as
they should he-unler the supervision and control
of the medc.l STAFF
s. Is it the fault of the medical staff of the army
that the iortrnmct does not furnish single utensH
in rh,rh ~ho!ssomc brcod can be cooked.
T. ls,t the fanlt Of the medical staff that supply
of fruits and vegetables has not been furnished the
soldicry during the hot summer months. when it
Impossible IL procure them in the vicinity of
the camps-every thing Of the kind having been
sumcd:
g. Is it the FAULT of the medical staff that the men
whose daily food heretofore consisted, large de-
gree OF sailed meats, should lie afflicted with disease
when they, for long periods, confined to the use
of fresh meats, without beng supplied with suffi-
cient condiments with which it should be seasoned :?
g. Is it the fault of the medical staff that measles
appeared in the army, and that regiments were ex-
posed to rain and cold for whole week, without
tents when the disease prevailed extensively in said
regiments?
7. Is the health of the army and the comfort of
the sick promoted when the disposition and control
of them is assumed by the military authorities?
s. Shall the reputation Of the medical stat suffer
when-contlary TO their advice-the sick Of the
army are removed from point to point by the com
mand Of the military anthorities-the move result
ing as it frequently does, in increase Of fatality
among the sufferers?
Q. Is it the fault of the medical stuff or of the
government, that up to the 9lst day of July the
hospital accommodations at Manassas not suf-
iicient for the wants OF fifty men?
10. Is it the fault of the medical staff that when,
by orders from the military authorities, the sick
are all sent back. that four hundred of them are
compelled to lay for twelve hours in ptiless rain
without shelter many of them dying in consequence
! of the exposure:
H. Is it the fault of the medical STAFF That suf-
fcient number of cars no: provided 20 carry of
! the sick from Manassas, instead of leaving them
there for days to suffer for want of attention and
! food?
When these questions are satisfactorily answered
it will be sufficient time for those who in bliss
/ ,iul ignorance Of the way in which things arc man
aged to open the walls Of their wrath upon the much
, abused medical staff of the army of the Potomac.
| Whilst | can have respect for set Of men who
for the love of office and few paltry dollars, allow
! their operations to be so seriously embarrassed
their good lame compromised and their profession
insulted, by the interference oe their military
! periors; yet am disposed to give the devil his
due, and assert that if the trammcs are taken frou
the army surgeons, the military authorities attent
more closely to their own department, and the gov
crnlnent will provide better Diet for the army, ant
better accommodations for the sick IN transitu. thu
efficiency and health of the army will be improved
and the mortality in proportion decreased.
NOT A STAFF OFFICER