Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-07

=.
perhaps-that there was some axe to grind.
A psrsevering effort was required before the
merits Of the plan proposed was taken into
consideration. 1t was represented by the
gsntlsusa that as~ econ - the nssd was ap-
parent the government would be overwhelmed
by the benevolence of the people; that the
proffersd relief would be showered upon IT,,
and that there was no alternative but to meth
odize. that bensvolence. Aftsr considerable
difficulty the government MA convinced that
W. had soms sanding At home; that W. were
not actuated by mercenary motives, aud that
we could BE- trusted with this service.
There are two things We have to b. econ.
ciled to in this mattes-ons ID red tape and
the other is want Of red tape. It 10 like the
woman who applied to the Bible Society for
the very smallest Bible with the largest sized
print. Laughtcr] 1t is not easy to supple.
ment anything. The government had the
impression we were too much trouble. and
told US 90; but it has come to recognise our
usefulness. . ,,4 ..I.... .hr.
We have had another difficulty. Many of
the people from whom the Commission de-
rived valuable aid did not care whether they
supported the Medical Department or not.
They had the impression that tho whole sys-
tenn ought to be got rid Of. Red tape is just
as essential in government matters a. white
tape in domestic life. If in affairs of dress
white tape were omitted, no littls confusion
would result. Our aAairs-that is, govern
msnt affairs-would bs in just such condi-
tion but for red tape. If the government reg
ulations were carried out the sick and wound.
ed would be we'll taken core of-would need
nothing more than they would receive.
WHAT THR COMMISSION HAS DONR.
l will you now what the Sanitary Commits
sion has done. l have not come to bury the
Sanitary Commission; but rather to praise to
it. So far az I might seem to praise myself, l
will say that am too small part to be con-
sidered In the matter; it is my province to
speak Of it. and speak Of the corps as wor-
thy the confidence Of the American people.
1t has two departments: the department
Of prevention, and the department Of cure and
relief. In prevention. Il undertakes through
hygienic action to reduce disease by destroy.
ing the sources Of it, and to prevent our sol-
diers from getting sick. It selects . corps Of
experts-men whom it 10 obliged to take out
Of the ranks, and whom It must support at
such rates a. they would bs able to earn if At
home.
It has been found that unpaid labor is not
effective. Our men 20 through the army,
and see all the camps; and they ask some
three hundred questions, which are designed
not only to get information but to impart IT..
We have obtained information of . sanitary
character from about one thousand and sixty
regiments. Some Of the regiments have been
visited more than once. but the number of
separate regiments visited reaches seven hun
drad. We haze made one hsxdred aSd forty
Inspections Of tie army. and given all the
information we could a. to the best means Of
preserving the health Of the men. We do not
content ourselves with getting answers to the
questions, but W. have printed documents Of
a general character, and sixty different dis
quisitions on medical affairs. ..,.,ra r,.s.
We have issued lettcred treatisea, begin
ming with the first letter Of the alphabet and
running up. think. to Q or s. and have dis
tributsd these, which may be known a. the
Portable Medical Military Library. through
the army. Now. we have the hsalthiest army
that was ever known in history, and no body
Of men ever collected would compare in the
percentage Of mortality with this American
army. The average per cent Of the death
rate il between Eve and six; while the death
rate Of the British army under Wellington was
sixteen. and a-half per cent; and In the
Crimea it was twenty.three per cent. BY
comparing in your minds the vast difference
between twenty. three, sixtcan and A-half, and
FIVE and a-half per cont. you will arrive It 4
correct estimate Of the actual healthfalness Of
our army, which exceeds In this respect any
army IN the world. ''''', ''''''
I would not claim that all this has resulted
from the aaoets ef the Sanitary Commission.
will not claim that this result should b
credited to the commission In any very great
degree. Other influence are At work. The
commissariat Of our army u better than that
Of any other army Of the world. If the food
Of the army did not cnms from above. and the
cooking from below, there would be compare
lively no sickness among the soldiers. Bad
cooking il one Of the worst features Of camp
lfe.f Il 10 ons Of the most important condi.
tions which bear On general results. 4 Good
cooking prevents disease. But nobody thanks
you for prevention; If you can curc. you
have the applause Of everybody. But ] can
assure YOU that very much Of our money Il
spent on this branch Of the work. which ]
consider the most important work in which
VIZ are engaged. When people say--as they
sometimes do-that we must take the money
and buy blankets with il, say the people
must give us the blankets. and We win uss
the monsy in thisiwayfn aar rtAV :
,.,,.9 ai l,APPlIcATl0N 0H RnLisS.. al,ot; /,
;. But have hesp talking about rslisf and I
must show yon It il needed and bow, applied.
Let " begin With the departure oe the Ssgi.
meut 70 tie seat Of war. 'We take Z regiment.
ws will sAy. from New York. and show you