The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-22
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF "a, asys

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF fAE AHHf-
The Richmond E.s0maaer SAYS the late sick
ness IN the camps sis an everlasting reproath h
To the medical authorities of the army" whose
attention should have been tnrned TO the
causes OF this mis-. hief and the proper proven
tive applied. ''Their powers SAYS the e.
amiRer, ''are of the anplcst character We
happen to know that they have had every aid
from the Generals and associated officers in
command In any instances which they have
failed because the requisite help was not ex-
tended TO them hy other departments of the
army, they should have appealed to the proper
authorities here, and If this appea! contrary
to our firm belief had proved Intellectual, they
should have thrown up their commissions
rather than appear as the heartless and indif
ferent spectators of the snflerngs OF our
troops.
The E.EnlaiHer proceeds
IAN the accounts which have come to u :
have made Il most unfayorab;e impression
as 10 the care of the sick by the surgeons
We Were told the other day, by a gentleman
OF undoubte't credibisity, of an instance
where some four or five hundred sick men
reached Manassa late in the uay on their
way 10 Richmond. The rain was pouring
down when these men got 10 Manassa, but
no provision whatever had been made for
their reception. They We're forced out of
The ears and left to seek shelter from the
rain for themselves as they best could
Some few of them managed 10 get into the
hospitals; the others We're forced 10 lie down
IN The rain, helpless and suffering, with no
covering but the leaves of The trees and their
blankets. What possible exarse cau there be
for such Wreiched mismauagement as this =?
What brutality Of the Yankees to our prIs-
oners can exceed this Infamous wrong and
Ckl ~ rftn
down their lives for their country
''Ihe soldiers thus brutally treated We're
allowed TO pursue their journey in the cars
to Richmond without food of any kind and
were dependent on the charity OF private in
disidnais for relief from the cravings of hun
ger. One Of these, we are advised, spent Il hun
dred dollars 10 relieve them from his own
pocket. On reaching this city a similar neg
lect prevailed, ana men, with frames so
weak that they could hardly stand up, We're
allowed TO wander heiplessIy on the stree is
without direction or guidance. This is but
one Of the many proofs we bave hid of a
spirit Of indolence, recklessnesS, and rnisrn4n
aeement in the medical department The
suhjr hardly edrilits OF comment. We are
persuaded that the able and energetic man at
the head of the Wax Department will find
on giving his attention TO the subject, tha /
obuses exist which call loudly for reform
We DO not believe tina he Will permit such
things II continue. The whole subject of the
care of the sick of the army must lie reor-
c3niZed, and those CT the present medical
IT II who are unit for tn ir duties must be
turned adrift. Doubtless many VIII be
found to whom no exception can be taken
and for these our remarks above have 10 s.p-
piication.'
We transfer these serious charges to our rcol-
ulnns for the purpose Of increasing the chances
Of arres.ng the attention of the Government,
and drawing il at once toan investigation. We
have now letter before rs. handed TO us by a
highly respectable person, containing aliega-
cations Of c0nduct al one of our hospitals that
would better become the realms of LINCoLS-
lsa than Virginia We insist, in the name of
the Southern people, who have given the Idols
of their hearts TO this war, that this thing
shall be probed TO the. bottom, and these
charges, which are flying about as thick ss
autumn leaves, shall be proved or disproved
50 that the wrong may be redressed, the guilty
punished. and faithful and competent off
GERS no longer forced to share the odium
which belongs alone to the inelfic lent, inten-
peIate, and brutal.