The national Republican., 1862-02-04
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL AT ALExAN.

WIS AeSSA~yf S'c6'
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL AT ALExAN.
In our notice Of tho hospital matters at Al. |
exandria, we referred to the note received by |
Col. Mansfield, which led to bis investigation, |
and TO Senator Wilson's resolution Of inquiry. |
The following is the notes
GENERAL HOSPITAL, ALEXANDRIA,
Jan. 26, 1862. |
am sorry that Government does not know |
the abuses and insults that are practiced on |
unfortunates here, but they will not, because
the threat Of slave pen and confinement Is held
up before men to deter them from speaking the
ruth. have nothing to complain Of but ne.
slect, and the universal complaint Of starva-
tion. Yesterday poor soldier was shot for
attempting to escape from the slave pen. A
few days ago Wisconsin man was locked up
for forty eight hours on bread and water by
order OF the chief surgeon, for the crime OF
asking for a crust Of bread. Sick men are
struck In the face by the eame man for neglect
ing to salute the man. who never returns the
salute Of a private. These are facts, and they
can be substantiated by at least three hundred
convalescents. Should you decide to aid me
in getting my discharge before II 10 too late,
you will receive my best thanks.
An intelligent correspondent who does not
pretend to deny the statements made by the
invalids in the hospital, has sent US the follow
ing, which may prove Of some service to the
Congressional investigating committee. We
hope the investigation will be thorough, and
that Justice will be accorded to patients and
surgeons.
Our correspondent thus disposss Of some Of
the complaints
SMALL ALLOWANCE OF FOOD.
In some Of the hospitals, patients have COM
planned Of not getting enough to eat, when
their regular allowance of bread, twenty
two ounces a day, with beef soup, rice,
and potatoes,) was served to them at every
meal. There are men in hospital who have
the rations for three men in health served to
them daily, and still complain that they are not
satisaed, and that they do not get enough to cat
Men are supposed to be sent to hospitals to be
listed and restficted in food, II the surgeon
thinks 1t necessary; but, like the volunteers in
some cases, debating to their officers and con-
trolling them, It would be pleasant, doubtless,
to the soldiers in hospitals to propose their own
diet, treatment, &C., II 1t could be so arranged.
A sick soldiers story is very apt to gain ere.
dence; but It lie certain that some Of them viii
not hesitate to complain Of cruelty" IL the
surgeon is simply firm in manner with them,
and resolutely refuses to comply with their de-
mands:
SOLDIER WISHES TO BE DISCHARGED.
D. Ii. Houister says:
IL have asked for discharge but cannet
get II the Doctor tsid he would do all he
could for me, but Doctor Porter would not at
tend to 1t, and for that reason have to stay
here"
II this man means discharge from tho SER
vice, the surgeon could not give it; If he means
discharge from the hospital, DR.. Porter was
the proper Judge Of the time ,chen bis health de-.
manded bis discharge. Certainly surgeons
have no reason to desire, for their o,on salees to
keep men in hospital.
DR.. PORTER DIDN'T KEEr TAVERN.
A,son 4. Cook says:
A captain came to DR.. Porter with a sick
colder, and requested permission to leave him
I'LL morning, as be couldn't 60 on to his regi.
m"ut that night. DR.. Porter told him to be
of, Tor he didn't keep tavern"
DR.. Porter might have used more courtesy in
his refusal, 1t is true--but in the refusal itself
he was not to blame. The surgeons Of all the
hospitals have numerous applications for lodg-
ing for might or two rom soldiers and their
friends. A soldier who remains away from
bic camp on a spree, can easily feign sickness
and ask admittancs to hospital, and tEey do
1t itfrequently. Now, a surgeon has no right to
receive these dodgers to the exclusion of the
sick, perhaps, for, as DR.. Porter truly said, o
hospital is not tavern, but an establishment
where sick men are received only on the Ger.
ii6cate OF the surgeon Of a regiment. If sur
geons received men without such certificate
stating name, regiment, disease, &c.,-if the
men should die, where could he send word Of
heir death, who they were, &C., and what re-
liable statement in regard to them could he
place on his hospital register? So that how.
'ver harsh, DR.. Porter's reply might seem, he
was legally and officially correct in refusing To
receive the soldier
II is to be hoped that the committee of the
Senate will scrutinize this whole matter fully
and carefully; yet, while giving q ready and
attentive ear to all just complaints, let them
not forget how easily men may complain with.
out real cause, aud that the surgeons deserve
some consideration as we'll as their patients.
Our army q the Potomac is the most ex.
pensive and the most idle, perhaps, ever placed
in the feld-it is, certainly, in the consumption
Of food, far in advance If any other army. The
men in our camps exact meat three times q
day, together with other rations more, per
hsps, than they need either for health or com
fort; and the men in hospital demand the same
Without doubt, it is just in most cases to refuse
this, and, indeed, the duty of the surgeon.
STRIKING SICK SOLDIERS.
It's not likely that surgeon would srikn q
man unless he. had rome o,usa tr long ~