, 1863-06-25

has more the need Of thorough wedding than
the medical, and though the change for the
better has been wonderful, yet there Is wide
margin left for improvement.
: ARMY vB~ C1vu. PRACTICE.
This is q new distinction that you hear on
every hand. One would draw the conclusion
that a surgeon must be wholly educated In the
amy, and that bis civil practice al goes for
nothing. Here is case In point: A Lieuten-
| ant Is brought on board with slight gun shot
| wound, into which the erysipelas hns been
| inoculated by a sponge TINT has been the
rounds Of the hospital. Without disaffectiug
| 1t, hcs has been treated with iron internally
Iodine md acids! He cannot live. Civil
prnctice would have kept the erysipelas ont
dies which are not found In tbs army medical
chest.
We hare no doubt that many Of the fatal
cases Of erysipe1as In gun-shot wounds, come
Of this careless use Of the sponge, The cost
Of sponge is not great, nor il It's transporta-
tion expensive; it would therefore be well to
increase the supply, 30 as to guard against
this careless use Of it, or rather It's indiscrfm-
mate use. 4 boz Of sponge Is worth q dozen
boxes Of wine.
SANITARY AGENTS, i.
In some cases, these are good business men,
but others are the reverse; good, well mean
ing men, who think themselves the hub OF the
sanitary world, aud that oil things move with
their slow orbits. One Of these fossils is To-
Gated between here and Chicago, holding sew
eral carloads Of potatoes and other supplies,
since, so as to have been distributed, instead
Of being spoiled BY the delay. These agents
are paid for their services, mud should be held
responsible. The eleven hundred bushels Of
potatoes, distributed to our working parties,
would do much to ward off the scufry, that
wall In In SC
month. When tho army resume their march
eastward, they will obtain more or less of
fresh vegetables; but the army has been here
since the 18th Of May, living on salt meat,
bread aud coffee, and no delay should be had
in sending them such valuable supplies as
these.
suppLIes-HoW DISTRIBUTED.
G. T. Chase. the assistant Of Col. Williams,
Of the State Sanitary Commission, was il
charge Of the goods sent down, subject. of
courEe, to any order Of tho Medical Director
After visiting several of the hospitals,
camps, and the men In the trenches, he sent
out supplies to the regiments, batteries and
hospitals which most needed them. Tho two
hundred bushels Of potatoes, and forty half
barrels Of beer, was eoon disposed Of Dried
and the numerous -indispensibles that the
Commission had gathered, were most gladly
received.
The members Of the Commission visited al
most all Of our regiments, and reported them
to the agent, when their wants were supplied,
as lar as possible.
No red-tape stood In the WY, Missouri.
Virginia and Kentucky troops shared with rs
Of the bounty; and well they might for large
numbers OF the men were from our State,
TEE WOUNDED.
The r+nnpdaH orn cop+ ~ .~ f. =
as they are fit to be removed, and to this end
the Government appears to be amply supplied
with transportation, and we are pleased to
state that there will probably be no further
call for sanitary State expeditions Of surgeons
and nurses, like this and former ones; But it
will not end the cali upon the people for aid
in other departments. Experience has proved
that the care of the sick and wounded Is best
left with the General Government, and with
which the several State authorities should
have nothing to do. But they can look after
discharged and futlonghed soldiers with great
advantage.
TIE s1CK ON BOARD.
The rules and regulations now in force will
not permit Of States taking their sick and
wounded, and We hare only Of the farloughel
sick and wounded, some thirty persons, many
Memphis Of all troops siudiscriminatelY. Why
should the rich State Of Illinois be allowed to
take her sick anl wounded, and leave the Bor-
der State troops, who have no one to care for
them? The Government says no; we will
take care of all alike. If you have supplies
to the proper officers, aud it shall be equally
distributed. In this NC sec no objection. It
il better than the old expensive way.
.. MEArH1s, juno 1s, 1863.
At this point we complete our load, making
two hundred and seventy, two having ilieG on
The passage. They will be taken to st. Louis.
THE HOSPITALS.
Their are eight hospitals at this point, con-
tanning about 4,000 sick and wounded, with
rooln for nearly as many more. They arc well
kept and well supplied with comforts, and
their treatment. Cleanliness. good food and
careful nl'rtirg is the order Of the day, using
the smallest possible amount Of medicine.
The washing In these and most Of tlle army
hospitals is done by female contr2hands, most
IF whom hare children with them. The old
women take care Of the children and the 9TH
ers Do inc washing, and IL some cases assist
in cooking. Mrs. Bcckwlth, the matrou, has
charge of tho washing for all Of the hospitals
here, Which averages about 200 pieces day.
10 do the wrinE1bg she has three Of the patent
wlingers, but would be thankful for tlye more.
make a thorough trial Of these valuable I'M
plcmcnts as to durability and good work,
those having good machines would do well to
send on samples for trial.
Our Sanitary Commission should also add
one to each division and other HOSPITALS, not
only for the saving Of labor, but tho saving Of
tile goods washed. Thousands Of bandsycs
could be washed and sayel by their usc.
CA1no, June Is, 1859.
Weleaye the expedition at this point, which
proceeds on its way to St. Louis On the
whole it has been productive Of good results.
Every member las been gratiacd in finding
things in better condition than anticipated,
and the men III the field have been chccrcd
with the presence Of so many true men among
them.
From Gen. Grant, and all other officers of
the army, the Committee received every cour-
tesy and attention that could be expected or
desired, and they will long remember their
visit with pleasure. Tho members return to
their several homes better informed rs to
what is needed from the people, and how It
should he dispensed, and we trust no means
will be relaxed to make the soldier in the field
comfortable and efficient.
Dr. Macarthur, the medical director Of the
has shown himself we'll worthy of
the trust that Gov. Yates reposed In him. We
would like to speak Of The surgeons and
nurses individually who SO fl. .hfully per
formed their duty, but 1t might be deemed in
vidious.
The City of Alton is fine boat, and worthy
doing the Government good service, but we
always felt safer among the guerillas with. q
convoy than without one. RURAL,