Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-20

torical times have always been the on
spring Of bad laws and mismanagement.
This assertion is not haEarded lightly or
without reflection. II Is a proposition,
which In the Language Of John Quincy
Adams, "wiii stand the test Of human scru-
tiny, Of talents and Of time" Laboring
men Of Ohio, my opinions, my preiudices,
my wishes, my hopes and my fears are all
with you. The men who are stimulating
you TO deeds of selfish atrocity are not
your true friends. Flee from their teach
ings as from the face Of q serpent, well as-
sured that nothing morally wrong can be
truly expedient. GLENDALE.
service I'm the WONen's Department for
Nursing IN the Military Hospitals.
EDS. LEADER AS some reply to anum-
Der of devoted and accomplished ladies,
who desire to enter the public service IS
nurses, I ask you to publish the following
circulars. Al a recent personal interview
with Miss Dix, she said that while she would
receive and employ FIVE or six good nurses
from Ohio, at Washington, Alexandria, &c.,
yet on account of distance, expense of
travelling, &C., and the supply she could
command from points less remote, she had
determined not to invite nurses from the
west to come to the Potomac: A. CIR.
CIRCULAR NO. Z.
SURGEON GENERALS 0FFIcE, !
WASHINGTON, D. c., July IA, 1862.
In order to give greater utility to the
acts Of Miss D. L. Dix, as "Superintend-
ent Of Women Nurses in general hospital
and to make the employment Of such nurs-
es conform more closely to existing laws
and orders Of the War Department, the
following announcement is made for the
information and guidance of medical Off
GERS and Of all concerned
Miss Dix has been entrusted by the War
Department with the duty of selecting wo-
men nurses and assigning them to general
or permanent military hospitals. Women
nurses are not to be employed in such hos
pitals without her sanction or approval,
except in cases Of urgent need.
Women nurses will be under the control
and direction of the medical officer in
charge Of the hospital to which they are
assigned, and may be discharged by him
if incompetent, insubordinate, or other
wise unfit for their vocation.
Miss Dix is charged with the diIgent
oversight of women nurses, and with the
duty Of ascertaining by personal inspec-
tioE whether or not they are properly per-
forming their duties. Medical officers are
enjoined to receive her suggestions and
counsels with respect, and to carry them
into effect if compatible with the hospital
service
As it will be impossible for Miss Dix to
supervise in person all the military hospi-
tails, she is authorised to delegate her au-
thority, as herein defined, to subordinate
agents, not to exceed one for each city or
military district.
Women wishing employment as nurses
must apply to Miss Dix, or to her author
lied agents.
The army regulations allow one nurse
TO every ten patients (beds) in q general
hospital. As it is the expressed will Of
the Government that a portion Of those
nurses shall be women, and as Congress
has given to the Surgeon General authori-
ty to decide in what numbers women shall
be substituted for men, it is ordered that
there shall be one woman nurse to two
men nurses. Medical officers are hereby
required to organise their respective hos
pitals accordingly.
Medical officers requiring women nurses
will apply to Miss Dix, or to her author
lied agent for the place where their hospi-
tails are located.
Sisters of Charity will be employed, as
at present, under special instructions from.
this Office.
WILLIAM A. HAMMOND.