, 1862-03-28

LA$e3. USAtA3.
Gun shot wounds, &C., November. III Il
December.... 70 {
!" 1saSaaa2 FsS4u32ry e31l n'?s s:
11a5 s.
This is mortality Of a little less than fire ps,
cesst. The whole number of patients in the
Hospital, March 18th, 1862, was 1888. (Thc
entire number in all tic hospitals in Paducah,
where the court house and all the churches
18th, was GS9.)
1t will be seen that the mortality has not vet
been sufficient to allow DR.. franklin to acquire
i very large fortuhc in specufating in burial
expenses: The basis OF that charge appears to
be this: The predecessor Of DR.. +. allowed q
man in Mound City, ten dollars in each such
case, IN behalf Of the 9. S. Government. DR..
F. considered this an exorbitant: charge, and
has had the work done By Government en-
ployees at about two dollars apiece, gaining
nothing for himself, but saving to the Govern
ment L sum that will ultimately not be CON
temptible. =" Hlnc iNas Iacryn.ae-" It is to be
hoped that the Milwaukee paper that was hon
ored with the indignant travellers letter, viii
90 justice to the largest, and as competent
Judges declare, tile best military hospital in
the country, by stating the facts as they are.
That other charges against Dr.. FHlnkIin,
unknown to NE, may have some basis of truth,
IN tile conduct either Of himself or his num-
eroas assistants, is not for me to deny; aud
human impcdection, joined to the care of 50
Immense an establishment, certainly renders
probable some faults and indiscretions in word
and deed. whoever may be at the head. len
only affirm that, Of the charges which came
to my ears, there were none which, on exaui-
nation, did not seem to originate in jealousy
or mlsapprehensioD, while many Of them were
mutually contradictory and cancelled each
other,
It was my happiness to meet in the hospital
hlr. David Fisher Of kalamazoo, Mich, who
had been acting for several weeks as gratui-
ties Of observation could not be surpassed.
To him would refer inguircrs who desire def
mite and reliable information. I would also
refer them to Dr.. Aigner, u. s. Sanitary In
spector for the last six months at Cairo, and to
Dr.. j. B. Whiting Of GAINESVILLE, Wis, who
have minute knowledge Of the condition and
management Of the Hospital, and have testi-
fed to our Commission in its favor, IN thc
highest terms.
SOLDIERS HOME AT CAIRO.
At the suggestion Of Dr.. Douglass, the eff
elcnt Agent Of the United States Sanitary
Commission, there has been established at
Cairo, "Soldier5' Home," or place of tenn
porary board ard lodging for sick and wound
ed soldiers passing through on furlough or dis
charge. Many Of these arrive daily, and are truly
objects Of compassion, being weak in body, de-
pressed in mind: penni1ess in purse, and ignor-
ant Of means Of help. They need house to
which to go over night, and friend WHO will
accompany them to perfect their papers and
obtain their passes and rations. Such a
Home has been in operation for about
month, under temporary arrangements, aud
about seventy men sleep in it every night. 4
Permanent superintendent will be sent from
this city, trust, without delay. Icannot doubt
that benevolent and patriotic public will sup
ply the means to meet the additional expense
which this Institution will entail upon the
Commission. Let each man suppose his OWL
son to he an applicant for its lid, aud bis
heart will move him to deeds Of generosity,
for lie will then remember that each soluier
cared for, ais somebody's son.'' Many
blessings have grateful soldiers already il
Tokcd upon those who opened this tsHome,"
while the announcement of it to the soldiers
whom met in camp and in transit, caused
universal joy.
MORALS oF TIE ARMY.
In the report Of o tour Of inspection made
LIST October by Or: lsham and myself, and
since printed and widely circulated, reference
was had to the importance Of morality and
religion in the army, and to the unhappy
prevalence Of sundry vices. desire to reaf.
hrm what was then said, and to add that four
months subsequent practice Of profanity ty
have brought it to a Horrible desree
Of perfection in the art Of blasphe.
N.Y.. The contributions Of religious
reading and the labors Of chaplains do not seem
to have wrought the needed reformation.
Tint righteous cause should have such
unho15 associations is . cause Of sorrow,
shame and apprehension to all good men.
Trusting that this statement of our opera
tons may strengthen the confidence Of the
public IN our plans and methods, and show
them the wisdom Of committing their
benefactons to q well orpanized and re-
poDsible Commission which acts With cxpe-
Hence to guide its conduct, and in afiliation
with similar bodies throughout the land,
remain your coadjutor in this good work,
March 25tb, 1862,