Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-26
A MedicsI and Surgical journal.


One Of the literary papers IN this city-1he Illus
tratsd Nsps-hAs been urging the publication Of Med
iCa and Surgical Journal We wonder this subject has
not attracted attention before. The war must have
added largely 70 stock of knoWedge; Tor ne eli
matte conditions the peculiarly OF modern prcjsctles,
Including the poisoned balls Of the Yaokees) the con-
s.ituton and habits of the men comprising Sou bern
armies our camp and hospital regulations, the atmOs-
herc surroundings Of va ious localities, the relative
suscepbhtes Of troops from the several States and Of
companies composed Of toWnsmen or country people,
and macy other circumstances, must have Occasoned
novel relations anG combinations, which have produced
effects which, if not entirely new, are dssimar TO Ger
ta,n extent from any heretofore observed. For ex-
ample We have stated that troops from the towns
aud cities are strangely enough, much more free from
disease aud much able to undergo fatigue and ex-
Dosurs than those from the country Again. it mas been
as.srted that the soldiers from North Carolina and
Georgia are, of all others, most liable to disease and
least able to Withstand its Effects and that in the army
of Northern Virginia, at least the virginAns suffered
less from sickness than those from any other State.
These facts If acts they be, Of importance and
worthy of investigation, for under them may lie some
valuable general principle which may hereafter be ap
piled with profit in the formation and disposition of
armies But these and many similar observations have
been cOIAted by the Surgeon General as We learn from
the article 10 the Nsss o last week. and the only ques-
ou Is whether they should be left in the presses OF the
SURGEON Generals Office disseminated by publication.
We agree with the editor Of the NeOs that journal
would be the best not only for dissemination but for
preserving them. The Surgeon Generals 0ce might be
destroyed by fire. and all his accumulated observations
be blo,ed out of existence n ieW nrief minutes We
think, moreover, that the publication of Monthly or
Quarterly Journal under the auspices Of our Ssest army
surgeons, would stimulate the whole profession in the
Geld and the hospitals and excite spirit of emulation
which would make very many Of the medical officers
far more studOus, thoughtful and energetic than shey
have heretofore been. Again, many abuses might be
corrected by throwing the light Of print upon the trans
actions of the various fields camps and hospitals 1t has
been noticed that the farms through which q railroad
passes soon begin to show sensdVeness to public in
spsCton and rapidly improve not only in nestness Of
appearance, but in actual fertility. 1t great thing
20 let in daylight upon the dark holes and corners Of
the scientific a. well as the material world.
That the Surgeon General may lawfully lend helping
hand to the publication OF Medical aud Surgical Jour.
nal, We DO not doubt. Ahe hSsourSos VI ooueneru
Fields and Forests" which has been published Oy him,
in accordance with the act of Congress, although a
valuable and timely work. will not in our opinion, be
of near so much service the Journal in question:.
Another work. one Surgery, of more immediate and
practical valne in press, and will shortly be is
sued Five competent Surgeons have in charge the sub
divisions Of the art Of which the book treats it will en-
brace the latest discoveries be profusey illustrated,
and make valuable addition to the permanent litera-
ture of the COnederacy. If, under the provisions Of
the law books may be published, it will be difficult to
show Why Magazine or Review may not be pub
lishsd We are inclined to think that the Journal in
question will do more good to the service than any
book and therefore conform closely both to the
stter and the spirit of the law. Let the Confederate
Medical and Surgical Journal be started without delay