Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-08-15

slrTxFss ~ ms Army That great deal
ofiI- health in the army is chargeable to Sc
-.r. duty and exposure 10 camp aud fed, is
trne. beyond a dub; bat that the amount
is- 5een sxelIcd enormously by allowing
l..s1u- Of infrm constitutions to enter the
s.r~rce T. no less true The following from
l--te7 addressed to the President By DR..
Bellows and his associates Of the Sanitary
g. ur,i.s-5n, IN reference to the new levy,
cn.ains statements and remarks on this
s.f-.ct off great PRACTICAL importance
T-t csrelsss and superficial medical inspection
~ recruit. msde a. least 2j per cent OF the vol
u1-sr army raised last year not only utterly use
---.f fl,. positive ir-unbrance and en barrassnent
Hrfs- our hospitals with invalids and the whole
-.latrv With eAl-g-rated notions OF the danSeTs
sar war That " serously retard the recruiting
rrt.o new leyies we urgently need. Ihe wise
--I humane regulations OF the United states army,
,H4t REQUIRE minute ana searching Investigation
NJ The ra.slcll crllItion Of every recruit, were,
5lrin. the spring a-d summer Of le6l eriminaily
ri.recardcd b- iusrec-inc Clicers. In ~ Per cent
f .l9 regiments mustered into service curing that
-er.5l taere has been no pretense even OF a tho
rough inspection. Few regiments have thu- r
A--H
rank and file many boys of fr m i 10 lo-men
With herais, varicoss veins, consumption ard 9th
~ disease. wholly uniting them fer duty, and
-,Ls,u could nor have escaped tie eye Of compe-
ten. medical tficeT-and others with constitution
lroEen lE intcmperance or disease, or long past
-ae age & military service. bach oi these mt n
rest TIE nation q certain amount ol money
auruu.ir- IN the aggregate 10 millions OF dollars.
". one Cf them wss able however well disposed,
Q. er5u5e weeks hardship or render the nation a
1clar worth cf elective service IN the nell some
regiments left 10 per cent. Of their men IN hcspi-
tsls o. the rcsd, before they reac1ed the seat Of
war. Ho national crisis can excuse the recruiting
1t such material. Il increases for time he
,.rength Of tie army on paper, bat diminishes lis
-.tusl tficier.y. II is a mere source OF weakness
se-n5raiIatior. and wasteful expense, and Of man
i.oii ujfclief 70 the army and to the national
cane. The FREQUENT spectacle Of immature youth
and men with diseased or enfeebled constitutions
returning 70 their homes shattered and broker
down stt.r month of camp life, destr ietiNe I
+sa-ssfvs and u.eless 10 the country, has depress
- tie military spirit and confidence oi the people
We hsre been learning rapidly during the pas
year Il We have learned anything, II hAs peei
that wa mistake TO keep the regular armI
and tie volunteer army separate. Had tne reg 1
llrs be, from the frst irtermlnged win the Vol
f.rte.-s. t3ev would have leavened the who'll
lamp with tleir experience Of camp police, eisei
r!... ~ hord nation, and the sanitary eondition
o. military life We should have no bull hur
manic 10 blush for. Oar little regular Amy DIN
pei srD.ue the volunteers OF last year, woul
Ei.hiu three months have brought them up to 1t
ouu standard Of disipline and efficiency. As It Is
c greatest efforts haze been required to inspir
oficers and men with q sense of the nature an
Importance Of sanitary laws, and With the pr2eti
cal application Of hygenie principles to their tent
taeir camps, their persons, and their habits an
fad. IN this work the sanitary commission
through its professional experts, has l@eoTed me
tLtiicaly and with marked success. But 1t can
Lot contemplate tae needless renewal oi tne pam
tie los Of lie by debility, disease, and immatu
-.tv-teu times that BY our blo0diest bait!eS-i
~holly unnecessary that Of every ten men los
ty the army Gulil,y the past year, nine nave bee
nscGiessly wasted that by proper medical lIsPe'
Of recruits, the material Of disease can DC rs
duce1 10 the lowest possible sum T; and then, BY
proper distribution Of the raw recruits among til