Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-30


the rooms we'll ventilated, the tioors, dining
rooms and cnIiuary departments all neat anu
In good order; the patients, in most instances,
comfortable and cheerful especially was this
the case in ull hospitals visited, or in any
manner superinenlcl by ladies'. In making
this reprt the COMMITTEES do no. intend to be
understood as conveying thr idea that all
our hospitals are equally we'll managed. and
that all present the same appearance Of neal
ness, comfort and order. They do hot, There
was not Only difference in the mere APPEAR
auce Of the hospitals themselves, hut 4 very
striking difference in the pearance and
chez riulnGgs nr their inmates. Those present
ing an appearance less neat, however, for
lhrm exception to the general character nf
tie whole. Having said this much, it would
appear aS matter Of justice To those not eln-
hrnced within the exceptional class RS above
detintd, that specifications should be m,ie.--
In attempting to do this the committee irrl
hat they nGshL aIill ,ln 4 g.eater wrong, not
because this eSceptinNil rlai:i hay;. .!,iccrrded
sr we'll IN their undertaking. nr perhaps en-
ercaei as nuch taste and Vigilance IN the
discharge of ll.cit dulic" hut rather because
they Secnl to have dune, and still SeeIIi aux
louS TO do, all they ran under TIL. circun.
stances.
The nan whh strives " lin Zeal worthy al
Success, and who yet fails tG :ilis'',ecI So com
etel y and perfectly a. another, ought not has!i
iy t" be ccohdeain,d. liz should r,aher br ip
heli and strengthened IN his efforts, because
integrity Of purpose ami alcrpleSS vigilance
will finally prevail. i1ur Committee eri
INSURED that It is the universal desire af all
rh hn,. in, cha n, ,,i. 4
py .hern, TO render I'll Our sick and wounded
all the aid and assistance they can. They
urge anXiously, every reform in the whole
system that promises this result, and your
Committee are equally anxious thu; tho Con
gresS should perform promptly ann and availa-
bly, its duty in the premises. The number ot
sick ard wounded, nov iii the hospitals, is
not so large as heretofore. the number 'iaii-
gerously i'll ia comparatively small. \ Large
ma jority now i'll the hospitals, helng soldiers
who from general debility, resulting from ey-
posure in camps, the heat Of sun.rnrr ahd
long marches, hav' been unable IL remain
with their regiments Dn the march. and there
fore hare heen sert IL The hospitals 49, rest
and recrnii. This large elnsr, III u l,.s " =rL :
are generally sufficiently restored IN hsaIh IL
rcjnln their reg im2nr".
4 ihs lnrity of 1En".. drn.er',mSi; Ill, were
lahoring uhder attacks al rypi.""i irerr.Ts
phoid pnsuIeirra, rry ,ilrlas, and Ci'r""rc Di-
srrhua.
AS before stated, The general complaints
made by tie sick, relate IL /: want ri proper
food. both III quantity and iaa;Iy: ii prnpu:
p.epa-at; of 1t. addirional clothing and con-
pctcnt and skiiliul nur.;,s. II is not, under
existing laws and f..ula!!oGs, lii the power ei
surgeon; in cilarst TO remove these grounds
Of rnnl LIANT. They grow oGl al the ilRp2r
fct lIn Of the y SiIn Itsrli, ami 'Hn 'ii,y- i'2
remriied hY tnrsrss.
The supplies llIrTtsllal +. are not OF I quality
suitable. FIR The sick. Inns was the univer sal
cp;nion Of all Surgeons who expressed sn
opinion upon the suhjrcl. The Surgeons can
rot OBTAIN suitable supplies OF food, because
the hospital fund Is not sufficient for the pur-
pose, and they have no other means at their
ftlisposai.
They now have rhc greatest difficulty ii.
obtaining the limited supply Il poultry, vcsc-
tables &c. now used in the hospitals, and are
compelled 10 pay the NEST cXorbitant prices
for them. The quantity they ITO chtain is not
sufficient Far the necessities OF the sicE.
After having exhausted the hospital (un'i-
they can huy 10 more, and are then compelled
10 lake whatever supplies the c"lnTnlHSary
may furnish, whether suitable or not. For
this Very srriUuS calEc "i coml'iaiI; there rs
one remedy IN the l"."er at t"ngr'->', ani
that remedy may be male complete an'i etii-
cariuus. and that is, TO l!I.fGasr the hospital
fund. Under existing regulations this fund t.
formed III the hands Of ihr colHlhissary, hr
the Government aUow;ni. for each rtti0n n"l
drawn for the use nfthr sick the sum .! th,rtr
cents. This fund nr slnnani rather, MAJ h=
drawn by the SURGEON, anl be e&peudeH inr
such article ara not furnished hy the cnn.-
miSsaTy.
The ration that lhs sick soldier does not
draw, at present pll.cA. costs the GovernInct
about one dollar. il "utht certainly to be
worth ~ mnch VIXEN purchased by the tAI-
ern,llenl from 81 sick soldier in the ARM, a.
when purchased from another person not III
the army. Let the Government. then. Fay as
much for it. and in dpinC GhF it wall be d0Ing
only even handed justice 10 all pari.!. la
enlarge this hos spiial fund, 50 rs tc mike 1t
sufficient for all purposes. let tie unvcrn.
,ncnt allow for each rati@n not drawn the
sum Of one dollar. In''i.ai OF thirty cents, a:
now allcwed. Shnui,i it h.. ur,,rd III "rpos,-
Ii N To this, that tk;S fund might become too
large. and be liable to waste or eInbez%"InHni
il 1luy be replied that III fnnd never IaH>rS
into the surgeons hands uirtii required, hnt
remains III tit hands oi the r0minIssary, W IL"
is Il bonded officer o' the Government. 10
guard against all chances Of fraud, the act
eniarzing rhe fund cen provide that when the
find hail exceed certain amount, the t1reSS
shall be placed in the rhhllc Treasury 10 The
credit ni the hospital, ani al'hl" subject to
the ardar If Congress. Sh"nld Tins lilil'l Ge
increased III thu Ihannar ~ ht"ye stated.
great ccoh"ny may tee pracli;rd IN procuring
SUPPLIES Tor the ilosIitals,hy allowing surgeons
III charge to appoint one ar more AEehl4, lo
brGceed IL the countiy. ah'l tf'ere MAKE Sl;Ih
:ur,hases as MAJ bs nr.:,i.i. The SICK. ntaSe
All thin ;t,> irc anal rsIu'r. change u "'ti.
The iud thc5 r:qnirr ~ ge!ierailf Si'tipis'
such as huticrmi!k, vegetable, E"ultrY, &r.:
but this they ought th have. 10 make The
whole matter colnplei", when the 'tlnd u en-
larged and the agent srP"hted. lei the H"'-
ernh.ent provide hnn with ii a@heral t'ansp"r-
tation ticket Upon all railroads anh canals
Ihen in the service Of the hospital. and let
s)l railroad agcbts, and agents and officers OF
cana! boats &c c1IupciicI promptly ard with
out delay to transport all such articles as
mar he purchased fnr the Use OF hospitals,
To the place or place: required: and to guard
against all lIund an thE psit"t ifl% agent
let h,,n he required rv+ri sesk 'r n" Week;
to render All account, sworn IN ana vrliiiea
b7 vouchers. Uniasa some sn"h System he
a,!optrd tn. SILK m the h:r"!,Iims ~'lI 'Hii
tln,ia - ,,",n plain and Continue |" suffer.
When w,nter approaches the d'ili'ut1les
will lngleuse. II Congress will uerioI1n lis
duty, xii !hii n:ai nr a,@ri"h. AMI ihtlr ~
,i.n III tht p1r,n,.rs will inert thr HPpr"'a'
ri nl, suni .ncn. W"r.,i III the srriss It com
ulsiut. IS the want "i a'liilt'"r,al 'l"ils"g, 1
proper preparation OF The I''"i, and hrtlrr
uii.i mo:e c"mFrteItt nurses
THESE ara a:!ir,rS ra;i.;* ~ '.".ur ria!ht. hut