, 1863-10-09
LETTER. FROM GEN, mrJRI.
BUT AND NAL. ROBE,


tnemeelYes. The obte ct Is to call tho atten-
tion Of the northwestern people to the neces
Eity Of a central hospital for northwestern
soldiers:
LETTER FROM MAY. RoBB.
= HEADQUARTERS SANITARY CoHA1ss1oy.
MEhrI1s, Tenn Sept. 50, 1859. E.
Els E1ceuency Richard Yates, Governor OF ILL
SlR-My attention has recently been called
to the subject OF @ gtneral hospital, othe.
than that 1T Mound City, for the soldiers Of
Inc northwest. Mithou: any desire to en-
croach upon the office Of the medical profes-
sion, I would fay that the matter commands
! would also eay that it has lorg been the
opinion Of medical men in tie army of the
!. Tenns esee that 3 lasge general hoapital should
be established 1T come eligible Northwestern
point for the accommodation Of the soldiers
from the northwestern States ::
The f1s. consideration which presents It.
SELF TO my mind is that the. existing hospital
at Mound City, well as 1t Is understood to be
marsged, Is: situated within the malarious
district, aEd It's position Is unfavorable for the
recovery Of our soldiers from large class Of
diseases contracted in the Southern country.
For recoVeriDg from these diseases 1t Is desir-
able 70 Eaye bracirg and pure atmosphere,
cleaIfgl surroundings. .Are these conditions
fulfilled at Mound City? It certainly is the
general impression that the air for eight
months Of the year is not particularly solu-
hlious, ard that the water Of the Mississippi
Klyer Eye Is Tar from pure, comparing unf!gor-
sonri. presume 1t Will hardly be denied
that but Tor the accident Of there being at
that place large, uEoccup1ed building, no
one would hare selected II for the location Of
hospital for tie treatment Of the obstinate
diseases which prevail to such great extent
In our a1my.
It has undoubtedly served an admirable
purpose for the treatment Of wounds, after
eone OF our great battles, from the facility Of
acceEB to it By water, and the consequent
avoidance Of the ta1ring effects Of land trans.
portatlon. But take it that the fiat lands
alorg. tie borders cf our Southern streams
you'd never be selected or favored for the
camp ftyer and dfarrhea.
There arc objections to the location and
buildings ueed aa general hospitals ut the
present time in different parts Of our State,
Our sick do not gain health and strength as
rapidly as they would If better selections
could be made. For such causes as we have
mt nt1oned, ne almost instinctiyelY look to-
wards the abundant Mater aud cool air Of the
North. Where, then, can ne find The 1equl-
site helrh to restoration md strength?
Several points In our State have been men
TONED; aInorE them, AID the most promi-
n 1htr Tx1o D. a. Fn-
Rock River. ard some noint On % fie wsst ,hnra una
Of Take MichIoan havp crcn n1ora fhonrtt
to the Ent,fect, and cannot call to mind any
lcca}ity which premises so we'll Us the west
ern shore OF Lake Michigan, north of CHI
ergo. Hsre are found pure abr, good water
~ il nrst1nted abundance, and scenery which in
Itself Is mental trice to al thoee who have
eyes to see. From Cairo the transit by rail is
nnbre ken and direct, requiring 20 change.
Ibe Vicinity ofa great city cffers large means
TOR supplying the Narts Ct The patients, and
the great railroad s5stem offers Its facilities
field, Or to their homes. Building material
doubtless can be had cheaper than at any
othtr point In the State, and LOOK upon The
advantages offered here superior TO any
other.
ly, and are deemed worthy, when hayiop he.
come sick and wounded In the defense OF
their country, of a good home The preot