The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-15

We have received the following letter from
b. +. Bouchelle, NJ. ID. , of Alabama, and pub
iish 1t for the benefit OF the suffering
CHAKLorTssvILLE, Va, Aug 10, ls6l
! have been tor sometime visiting the sick
and wou nded soldiers of the mem ortba Man
assas, aud fnd that they are doing well tin
some places, at others not so we'll; there is a
strong tendency In many cases 10 typhoidSl
fever, or in other words the tsver which sue
cseds the wounds, AS necessary recuperatIve
effart of nature, which assumes the character
of a low, typhoid fever destroying many lives
that would under the usual circumstances,
recover. Another very singular circum Strlnca
observed, IL that two-thirds of the wounded
Of both armies are wounded from the hips
down 10 the fact; great number in the knees
Those that have been early operated on by
timely amputations, have done best. | don't
think, as general rule, that a sufficient mum
Der of putsItious have been performed,
and many will die Of constitutional irri:a-
ton whom an early amputation would have
saved. In some of the houses, the nurses In
form me that they find II exceedingly diff
cult TO keep maggots out CT the wounds; in
fac', saw them on the bandagss, and in the
wounds, In number OF instances, whore
both nurses and surgeons had discharged
their duty with commenda5la benevolenCe
patriotism and rigid care. Dr.. Fairfax, q
highly estimaole gentleman. and an excel
lent SURGEON, who has charge OF the wounded
At ths University under Prof. Uabell, aud
surely there Is large number there-iIf1rmad
me that he found the flies very troubles Dne,
and that he found the application Of calomel
the best remedy for their expulsion. l
think, however, that thesa are serioas Obiec-
ions 20 the remedy, as its local applica uOu to
the skin, even, will produca constitutional eff
fects, and Ia JoTtf0Tf) much sooner when
applied to wound or denui3d surface US in
this latter case 1t comes In immediate cOnt9ct
with the ab.orF aut vessels. | suggested To-
ton or wash TO DR.. Fairfix which will here
repeat that eyery wounded soldier may have
tue benefit OF and l want them all t. know
Ii, both in private houses and the nos 5Ditais
The best remedy against mhggO. S, both after
they have been deposited in the wound and
before, is to bathe theawound, or wet the ban
dages, in strong decoctioG of common elder
tor sam bncus canadensis.) The fly will shun
this thing; and if the maggots are burrowed
in the wound, and a little of the de rCction 5
rl sctsd or poured in, they will come out.
Tne dpcoc ton is made by boiling any Quanti-
ty OF the leaves and tender stems OF the elder
in water, which ls TO ba used, before OBJ
served, as g. waah. l will also state here that
! have never observed any irritating effects
The plan ters in many portions Of the South
have long been familiar with the properties of
the sambucus or elder In eXpeliipg maggots
from the wounds OF stock but | claim 10 he
the author of The fact, as well as of the
medical properties OF the cotton plant, as may
be seen by reference TO The l.. ) Dlspensatury,
the organ of American Pharmacy. l state
these facts for no other purpose than to anne
liorafe the sufferings or my countrymen, who
have poured out their blood i'll defence of
constitu tiOnal liberty, And II any will
mingle amongst our wouaded friends and bro
theirs, as have done, ana see how much they
are annoyed by fies this hot weather, they
would hail the discovery OF = rem eiy agaiDst
them boon from heaven, therefore pub
iish Il that III may know IT,