The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-19
The Military Hospitals at Washington

Everybody remembers the terrible scene OF
suffering and death unveiled in the Crimea by
the investigations of the British Sanitary
Commission. During the two years endngin
March, 1856, 1924 Englishmen laid down
their lives there by the Black Sea, not in battle
nor yet from the e..ects of wounds received in
battle, but in hospital, dying of diseases which
in the great majority ofcases-14 ,476, it appears
from the record-might have been prevented
or cured with proper care. During the same
time only 4774 died in battle and of injuries
received on the field. The accumulated filth
of the camps, the damp, unventilated hospitals,
and the lack of needful food, clothing and
medicines, combined to swell the frightful rate
OF mortality. my soldiers" said the French
General Canrobert to General Airey, "are dy-
ing in the mud" The great and successful
efforts of the English Government to rescue
the army from this disastrous plight, will also
be remembered. The part borne in this effort
by an Englishwoman, who united TO the pa
tent, selfsacrificing compassion of her own
sex, masculine executive ability, will keep the
name of Florence Nightingale fresh and sweet
OF mortality in the British army was reduced
from ZAP to 10 in 1000.
This experience, collected and rendered
available by publication in Parliamentary re-
ports, has not been thrown away upon the
American Government. The Anglo-Saxon,
though not military is yet warlike race,
and capable after long years of peace oftaking
up and learning anew the arts of warfare with
surprising rapidity, The Crimean lesson, so
recent, so striking, has been invaluable to this
nation. At times our troops have suffered. At
Corinth, for example, it is well known that
the wounded and dying after thatunexpecred,
fierce battle, lacked almost everything-medi-
cines, hospitals, nurses, surgeons. But the
mist axes OF the Crimea have never been re
peated in their original enormity, and we have
been continually improving and perlecting the
sanitary condition OF our army from the Begin
ming OF the war.
The military hospitals at Washington are
models in their way. From every quarter
comes but one voice of commentator for
them. Transient visitors, newspaper cores
pondents and the Washington journals testify
alike to the completeness Of all their belong
ings and arrangements. The apartments are
cheerful and airy; the cloathing serurulously
clean; experienced and careful nurses in con-
slant attendance. the best medical talent in
the country constantly avoidable. Through
out the hospitals" said gentleman of this CT
ty, recently returned from Washington, 81
"heard not a single complaint. Every man
"was satisfied that whatever the kindest and
"wisest care could be done for him, would be
"done." There is no boubt that the greater
part of the wounded, who have recently been
brought to Washington from the Rappahan-
mock, are better cared for there than they
could be at home Men who have visited
Washington, impressed with the belief that
every sick or wounded soldier who could bear
the journey should bh sent Immediately home,
have returned with very different opinion.
A list of wounded Maine soldiers now in
hospital at Washington, will be found in anoth-
er column. To their friends, the assurance
that nothing will be wanting which human
skill can compass for their relief must be an
inexpressible comfort, and that assurance is
fully warranted.