Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-01-17
Sanitary Condition Of the vermop
Troops.


Troops.
To His Excellency, Hon. Frederick HS.
brook, Governor Of the State of Vernon:
have again mace an examination Of III
sanitary condition of the Vermont yolua
teer Regiments at Camp Griffin, and an
happy TO say that there is an improyemsa
in most respects. There is less mortal,y
a smaller number excused from duty on d.
count of sickness, ard feel quite sure lha
the character Of disease Is not SO magnaa
as at the date Of my former report on hi
subject. Typhoid fever, typhoid pneuus.
MIA, bronchitis and other catarrhal atfeciia
of the throat and head, rheumatism all
diptheria, are the complaints that preysil
OF these typhoid fever is by far the mog
common in the 9th and 9th regiments--lhs
proportion Of ievers bei,'g less in the ID
than heretofore; diptheria of rather NIL
form is seen in most regiments. bu, !. only
occurs now and then for a few days. NJ
new cases are seen in any regiment
Several deaths have occurred from this d.
ease, but as compared with New Englaua
dipthera il is more manageable.
The new recruits who came to camp ID
October and early in November, are nos
getting typhoid fever and lis kindred ds
eases, pneumonia and jaundice but lhHs
those who 20 into camp at this season aal 1
later will acclimate safely. would sug-
gest TO your Excellency the expedirney Of
keeping The regiments now raising in bar
racks, AS long n possible in Vermont, or
else use SUCH influence as possible 10 hare
them sent south of Virginia A positaa
near the coast south of Washington would
be favorable one, and, even north of hsi
the coast would b. more favorable than ihs
upland of Virginia
The amount Of sickness in the 5th and
9Th regiments is greater than in either d
the others-in the 9Th ranging from 220 10
250 excused from duty, with SO or 60 il
hospital, and Ia the 9th about the same nun.
Der excused from duty with more N hosp.
tai In the Sd and Alb the number excused
from duty is from 80 To $50. with less than
20 in the hospital III the 80 and about 60
in the 4th.
The relief furnished .ecenily by The
State in the way of Assistant Surgeons
seems to be nearly or quite sufficient. As.
sisIant Surgeons Porter and Phillips are ID
the field, and Assistant Surgeon Hazeliou
was expected 10 report himself for duty on
the Isl OF January. The Government As
sistant Surgeons Shaw and Goodwin will
now very soon, il is expected, return 70
their posts. The medicines ordered from
Philadelphia are daily expected, and in my
absence l gave the proper Instructions 10
Assistant Surgeon Hazelion TO take them 10
charge, and 20 deliver them to any Surepor,
upon written requisition upon certifcae
OF their being needed in his regiment, such
quantity not exceeding one fifth, as he may
name, for which the Surgeon is to give bis
receipt. In this way all the medicines will
be accounted for.
Since my former visit there have been
nearly completed, so that they will be occu>
pied this week, some log-hospital strue-
tures--one in the 9th regiment. one in the
I'd, and oae in the course Of construction in
the 4th. These, when completed. are, 10
my opinion, the most perfect hospital ar.
Judgements that can be made for field SER
vice; and can assure our citizens that al
though the name" og-hospitaI" soundss
little rough, they are warm, dry and can Be
Kept perfectly neat. They have good board
floors and a tight board or shingled roOf
The shingles are of Virginia chestnut
worked into shape by the Green Mountain
Boys. / deem these buildings better than
close houses, where the ventilation is i'm.
perfect and only takes place at intervals,
and generally 10 the discomfort of The ps,
TENTS In these, three regiments. viii i'm,
mediatsly be accommodated. The 9Th reg.
inent has large and extensive houses In
which the patients are well cared Cor. In
the Sd the small number Of patients are
well provided for in hospital tents with
board floors. The house near Chain Bridge,
once used as a brigade hospital, is now oc.
cupied by the 9th regiment for hospital
uses. but ats remoteness from camp will
probably cause its abandonment as soon as
the log hospital is completed.
The great want now is more complete
corps OF nurses. There is great need Of
well-trained and skillful nurses and ward
masters and / would urgently request Of
your Exeeliency 10 supply them. think
at least six are needed at once. Men are
picked up from TIE regiments that are good
ont very good ones are rare and il makes
a vast difference with the sick whether the
nurse Is only good or very good. We have
some names already furnished, and the list
can be increased. Of female nurses there
Is also lack, but I apprchend il will be
very difficult to find them well adapted to
the severe duties imposed upon them.
ED. Z PHELPs.
Windsor, Ian. ., 1862.