Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-09
The Medical staff.

The following pungent queries are taken from the
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 not deserving of the
censure cast upon them. If the government will
undertake as it ought to do, to have the cooking
and washing of the army done for it by competent
persons, venture the assertion it will be saving
to the CommSsary Department of one.third, and to
the health and lives OF our brave men, onehulf
To tie EItor Of tie Examiner:
Having of late noticed several articles in the Rich
mOnd newspapers, severely rejecting upon the nleai
cdL St,U attached to the army of the Potomac, and
having in vain waited to reply to the aGore
said articles, | induced TO ask for space in your
journal for a short communication.
| would ask these army heHlh makers to answer
satisfactorily the following questions:
|. Has the disease and mortality in the army of
the Potomac been greater than IN any other army
similarly situated?
>. Are the hygeinic regulations of the army as
they should bc-under the supervision and control
Of the medical staff
>. Is it the fault of the medical staff Of the army
that the Government does not furnish single utcnSH
in ~hIch rhoie~one bread can be cooked.
t. Is It the fault Of the medical staff that supply
Of fruits aud vegetables has not been furnished the
soldcry during the hot summer months, when it
impossible to procure them in the vicinity of
the camps-every thing of the kind having been con-
Sumed?
.. Is it the FAULT of the medical staff that the men
whose daily food heretofore consisted III a large de-
gree Of sailed meats should be afflicted with disease
when they, for long periods are confined to the use
Of fresh meats, without beng supplied with suif-
Cient condiments with which il should be seasoned
Is If the fault of the medical staff that measles
appeared in the army, and that regiments were
posed to rain and cold for whole week. without
tents when the disease prevailed extensively in said
regiments?
:. 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?
8. Shall the reputation Of the medical STAFF suffer
when-contrary TO their advice-the sick of the
army removed from point to point by the com
mand of the military authorities-thc move result
ing, it frequently does in an increase of fatality
among the sufferers?
.. Is it the fault of the medical staff or of the
government, that up to the 2lSt day of July the
hospital accommodations at Manassas were not suf
tcient for the wants oc fifty men?
TO- Is it the fault of the medical staff that when,
by orders from the military authorities, the sick
all sent back. that four hundred of them are
compelled to lay for twelve hours in pitileSs rain
without shelter many Of them dying in consequence
IL. Is it the fault of the medical stuff that suf
fcient number of cars no: provided 20 carry off
the sick from Manassas, instead Of leaving them
there for days 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 are man.
aged open the walls of their wrath upon the much
abused medical staff Of the army of the Potomac
" hst | can have respect for set of men who,
for the love Of Office and few paltry dollars, allow
their operations to be seriously embarrassed,
their good name compromised and their profession
insulted, by the interference o. their military SUI
perors yet am disposed to give the devil his
due, and assert that if the trammcls taken from
the army surgeons, the military authorities attend
closely to their own department, and the gov
eminent will provide better diet for the army, and
better accommodations for the sick trGnSitu, the
efficiency and health Of the army will be improved,
and the mortality in proportion decreased.
NOT A STAFF OFFICER.