New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-09

cate members many distinguished members OF the
medical profession throughout the loyal States, has
nonsi II iaily within the scope o iie duties to
invite them 10 aid in tie protection Of tue army
.gimst disease, by the preparation Of papers
lnisnded 10 emboiy in brief compass the llteet re-
-ni's Of medical and surgical science in regard TO
'ahious yecil points Of great practical Importance,
As 10 which Ie Of our volunteer surgeoas neces-
t.7y inexperienced IL tLfir new fehi of army medi.
! cle, surgery, AID hygiene, aud without access 10
/ lilniiss, may need information aud advice. The
dby 81 compiling these papers has been confded by
me tcnIrisi0a to leacing members q the profession
~ cur principal "itles aud papers on revace.naion,
on The treatment Of camp fever, on dysentsTy, aud
or eitln surgical operations Of importance, but not
IhaWGIsIIy understood, are now completed or in
progress. Tle-e the Commission proposes 80 print,
Aac place in the hands Of every member OF the nedi
cal staif. Though many Of theoe bilemen need no
"dVce OF instruction as 10 their prcessloDa! duties,
there are doubtless, whose patients will feel
- benefit, aud shouli single life le thus saved the
ahor VIII 10 asuniantly TeeomTensed.
| Tee COmnis sion hss distributed gra'us.ously to
the surgeons and officers of the volunteers, three
thousand each. on an average Of five copese trea-
'ises on the best means Of preserving health in
campo and the treatment Of ire sick and wounded
10 camp and the battlefield. Az Tue surgeons of the
volunteer army arc almost altogether drawn from
vi piac,ise, and aH no books circulars OF
instruction in regard 10 their novel responsibilities
have yet heen supplied them by Government, these
mod 81 works have been found Of considerable value.
siEclL RELIEF TO VOLUNTEERS IN RREGU.
LAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
The attempt has been made to suddenly stretch
system -igned TO supply the wants of WELL
organized army Of lees than 90 900 men uDder
thoroughly trained officers 10 make it sufficient for
the wants OF GOO goo civilians ruehing together in
arrcs, all at once, with Off ers acquainted with
tue forms Of administrative duty for n, army, but
o1iy leading men from among themselves, aud OF
sheir own selection, TO take the duty OF officers 10
that system. Tue population OF large town has
been all ut once ret down here aud there III various
art OF the country retired from the grand routes OF
Communication, and from all adequate avenues for
the supply OF their subsistence. ROgues and traitors
have seen their opportunity in this state of things.
Fools aud INDECENT men have been swept, in the
many edGies OF the grand purpose which formed the
central current, into places where great wi.dom,
activity, and energy would have failed TO meet every
pressing need.
1nat men everywhere, throughout these wonderful
multitudes, are daily suffering from the ignorance
neglect, mistakes and imposilions Of their officers
and Of each other, II a matter OF course.
The agents OF the Commission, limited in numbers,
snd sorey limited 10 means, have yet been able, in
ways innumeruble, and ia many which cannot even
be alluded TO by general Indication OF their
character, 10 administer measure Of assistance
ard lief in many thousands Of these cases.
4 bri,f description Of one of the more systematic
methods in which TIE Commission has thus more
tran justified all the hopes Of a benefcent result
Which were entertained II It's organization, all that
can be- attempted IN this report.
TIE main purpose had in view, in the agency re-
erred to has been TO lessen the hardslipe 20 which
Iii ignorance Of tho sick volunteers and their Off
eers OF the forms ard uethods Of Government, make
them subject while in the City OF Washington, and
20 provide for certain wants Of the volunteers, when
detailed from their regiments, for which the Gov
eminent ARRANGEMENTS had been Inadequate, aad
which the regular inspectors of the Commission, in
their visit. 10 camps and hospilels, could not at
tend to.
Practically, the chief duty has been
/ First 10 supply To tie sick men Of the regiments
arriving in Washington such medicines, food, and
care as il was impossbe for them 10 receive in the
MID Of the confusion, and with the lack Of facilities
Of Il ,ir own officers.
Scc.,Ads 10 furnish suiiable food, lodging, care,
and assistance 70 men discharged from the general
hosI ital, from their regiments but who are often
delayed tor number OF day IA the city before they
Obtain their papers and pay.
] Itfrd; 10 give asti.tsnce and information, and
secure transportation to who arrive at the rail
road station l. sua. Numbers. and want 10 find and
JoiD tleir reQme ni- Some oil these are men aeci-
dentsly left behind; ZONE are men who have been
detained by order for few days at hospitals in Pill
aGelphis or Baltimore.
| TIE bslding near .hc railroad station, occupied
by this agency IL furnished the Commission by Gov
eminent. From ite occupation for this purpose Oh
the 9th Of August lat, up to the 9th of December
instant, 3,0iJ nights lodgings have been furnished
to 30 sodlers mosty laboring more or lees under
disease. VITO would, If without this resource have
lren Obliged 10 ,leep on the floor OF the Reception
llouse or IN places OF great exposure. Many have
remained N II several days receiving medical care
from physician Of the city, employed BY the Com
uis-io1.
This has been done ut an aggregate expense Of
about Al 800
A single illustration Is perhaps necessary, Of the
manner ia which "A lew energetic and humane men,
moving near the track OF an army, may often chance
10 be able 20 mitigate the inevitable miseIies of war
/ by "A moderate expenditure when not hampered IN
making il by regard for the st1ct forms Of action 10
which the regular agents Of Government con-
fined. Such All illustration Is found concsely stated
! in report of Robert Collyer, who was employed,
Ut the time vi Writing II, as an Inspector oil the
Comnission IN Missouri;
Tweniy.cv,n 81 fever hsd been embarked at Otter
VILE sstnId., morning At 20 O'Clock In boz car. The
laid IN their blankets ON In. floor Wnh the sick
aid he body 81 m otce, ia coffin silge nurse,
wlhout lanc- money could do little else than
brus wetor the k AZ Ca.ornia station In the middle
Of afternoon they stopped 30 have the road
For th. beet they waited until
ocloei Of the following day, when the word came by
telegraph that would not pas, during the night They hna
!, arrived O'Clock OF morning at Jefferson, where
fortunately Lem-t~o nearly dead on the noor;
IN. r. n, and cold ssscd the he doing
for their bIssst lie answered that he had mode requs
lion snd hoped that henyL get oodup by 10 O'Clock
Immediately got supply coffee bread and meat from
the pubic hon,es and brought to inrn Tor which
fin.y they reached ST. Loui, a, iOoclock Sunday
evening" having bseb ihysik hour on the road Three
had led in tbs transit fourth followed In few hours
- OFF,"
| DISBURSEMENTS.
The following is statement OF the cash disburse-
ments Of the Commission TO the 10th Nov. lo6l:
Travelling erpenses Of inspec,ion.... S2O's 90
Compensation Of services Tor tnsTecton... J4oO 70
| Travelling eIpenses Of Cornmis.Oper...... loi0 -
| Office -IpeDsss, including seryices......... 90