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


August 9th, 1861.
To THE FRIENDS AT HOME:
, l have a little leisure this Afternoon
and have concluded again to have it'll,
talk with you. Nothing of any import
ance has transpired since l wrote yor
last unless it is the adjournment Of Con
gress. In many respects the late cxtr'
session of Congress has been one of tn.
most momentous in the history Of ou'
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.
~ all left-eithcr having joined their
regiments again or gone home on fur
Tough. Still GU: 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 a few respects at least.
In the first place the recruiting officers
arc too eager to have companies and regi-
ments 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 arc fit to make efficient soldiers
There is no life so hard, no class of men
Fave 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 intirmities and
are carried away with the glitter and par.
aphcrnalia of soldiers dress, or who are
lovers of romance, or who may even be
inspired by the higher and holier mo-
tivcs Of patriotism. One or two heavy,
drenching rainy seasons or forced march
| es, without their accustomed food and
comforts, and they are disheartened, nay
worse-sick. There is nothing that SC
much rctards the progress or cripples the
efficiency of an army as a 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 great
amount Of courage vii! sometimes oozc
out from very small sickness or wound.
We who are in hospitals have the best
kind of opportunities for making such
observations.
Ihcn too there are SO many entering
the army who are altogether too young
to do efficient service. We have them
in hospital now Is, 16, II, &C., years of
age Their physique is not sufficiently
developed to enable them to endure the
hardships of soldiers life
Thea again many enter who are com.
paratively feeble, but who would get
along we'll if they received tie care they
could and ought to have l lad that
many come in who become subjects for
the hospital because Of the imprudcncc
of their commanders. An instance to
the point occurred only two or three DAYS
ago. The 10th Pennsylvania Regiment
. had been encamped for some time on
Capitol Hill in Washington. They were
ordered to change their camping grounds
to Georgetown HE'S hts-fve miles dis.
tant There was no urgency in the case
and their colonel had the choice of time.
Instead Of starting earl 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 op
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 hos pita
, lnsensIb!s from sun stroke. This is no,
: solitary instance, but they occur so frc
4uently that the hospital became Sc
crowed as to be unseryiceablc to those
who have need of hospital Accommodation
n IRON proper military duty.
. In addition to the other causes are bad
!, 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 arc uncaIlcd for.
= Then again soldiers themselves ar
criminally negligent Of their health, an,
E indulge in raw fruits and violate ever,
law of hygiene.
; There is a good deal Of playing thu
cold soldier" in hosritas--a grsa, man,