The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04
statement of Released Surgeons
Relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners In RichmO nd.

statement of Released Surgeons
Relative to the Treatment Of
Prisoners In Richmond.
The following is an extract from tho
statement made to the War Department,
by the surgeons just released from the
Libby Prison, of the treatment of the
prisoners at Richmond:
We enjoyed for several months daily access
10 the hospitals where the sick and wounded
among our Union soldiers received treatment.
AS the result of our observation. we hereby
deciare 1t our belief that since the battle OF
Shlckamauga the number of deaths per diem
mas averaged fully fifty. The prevailing dis
eases are diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid
pneumonia. Of late the per centage of deaths
greatiy increased, the result of causes that have
Deen long at work, as insufficient food. cloth
ing ana shelter, combined with that depression
ment. o ''"''"'
it may seem almost incredible when we
affirm, OF our personal knowledge. that in the
hospitals Tor Union soldiers, the average NOR
tallty Is forty per day. and upon the most reli.
able testimony, we are forced to believe that
the deaths in the tobacco factories and mon
the Island will raise the total mortality. among
all the Union prisoners fifty per day. or fifteen
| hundred monthly.
The extremely reduced condition of those
| brought from the Island argues that hundreds
| quite sick are left behind, who with us wond
be considered fit subjects for hospital treat
ment. Such, too, is the fact as invariably stat
cd by scores we have cOnversed with from that
camp. The same to degree, holds true of
prisoners in the city.
| IL would De reasonable estimate to put the
number who are fit subjects for hospitals, but
VINO are refused admittance, at five hundred
thousand are already under treatment in the
three hospitals, and the Confederate surgeons
themselves say the number of patients is only
limited by the small accommodations provided
mus. we nave over ten per cent. of the whole
| NUMBER OF prIsOnels held cassed rs sick men,
VINO need the most assiduOus attention yet in
| the essential matter of rations, tn " are re-
| celvlng nothing but corn bread and sweet DO
tatoeS. Meat Is no longer furnished to any
class OF our prisoners except to the few Off
GERS in Libby Hospital, AID all such or we'll
| officers or privates are now furnished with
a very poor article of corn bread in
in place OF wheat bread, unsuitable diet for
hospital patients FRUSTRATED with diarrhea,
dysentery and fever, to say nothing of the
startling instances of individual suffering and
the horrid pictures of death from protracted
sickness and semi-starvation, we have had
thrust upon our attention. The first demand
OF the poorer creatures from the island was
always for something to eat. Sefrespect gone.
half-clad and covered with vermin and filth,
many of them are too often beyond all reach of
medical skill. In one instance the ambulances
brought sixteen to the hospital, and during the
night seven OF them died. Again eighteen were
| brought, and eleven of them died in twenty.
| four hours.
Gleanings from the Rebel Press.
Files Of Richmond papers from the 18th
down to the oath contain little of marked in
terest. The currency question still seems to
absorb their columns. Communications are
published, and complicated financial schemes
are elaborated
The Dispatch of the goth, in referring to one
| of these schemes says:
The first thing to be done is to stop the issue
of more Treasury Notes. Unless this be done
all farther action on the subject is evidt ntly
| vain, tor it is redundancy of currency that has
raised prices to their present fabulous height,
and that having Occasioned depreciation in the
first instances, renders its downfall more iney-
| liable as the volume increases
! The circulation is now 1850. 900 900: the
treasury issues $50 900, 900 a month In year
we shall have circulation of 81 $50 600, 900.
| A barrel of flour now sells for $50 barrel, and
the price will keep pace with the increase Of
volume and diminutiOn in value of our cur
J rency. In year barrel of flour will cost SlUO
|
ratio No government on earth can stand such
a system. There must be IA ical reformation
or we are done for. 1t belongs to Com ress to
! make the reform. 1t must not shrink from the
task. but do it speedily aud do it etfectually.
The Sentinel of the 10TH in the leader re-
viewing the campaign of 1868, says
| 1t has pleased Providence to curtail our pro
| duce of food. Both drOughts and rains have
diminished our harvests, and more to be la
mented still, disease among the swine has les
sened the supply of meat. 1t is truly an afflc-
ton to be thus abridged at such a time, but it
| Is af1ctOn that comes from Heaven, and it be-
hooves US to bow to it with reverence and sub
mission, and truly if we desired and needed to
| receive chastisement it was mercy that came
thus rather than the triumph of our enemies,
tor as one said of old, 1t is better to fall into
the hands of God, for he is merciful, than into
| the hands of men," The result however 10
that while we have bread enough for our
armies and our families, there is not suffi-
cheney of meat for so free consumption as
we have been accustomed to. Poop must
reduce their consumption of meat or the army
must suffer. People OF cities have alreauy
greatly reduced their consumption of flesh.
Perhaps high prices had much to do with this,
but still the fact is important that with people
in the country there is not the same compulsion
OF necessity, and they as we learn, ha; z not all
stinted their families or servants of their accus-
Tened Indulgence or allowance. We respect
fully, but earnestly entreat them to give the
subject their attention. and to consider it in the
light of their duty to soldiers
The very meat which the father feeds away in
superfuity of servants. his son may suffer for
in camp. One or the other must be put on
short ratiOns. Which should it be? Aud the
question receives double emphasis when we
remember that at home we have substitutes for
flesh, and in the camp none.
The True Doctrine.
The st. Louis Republican, one of the ablest
OF the conservative journals. after giving the