The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-12-10
STATEMENT.

We the undersigned, Surgeons of the
U. S. Army, and recently prisoners in
Richmond, consider il our duty to pub
lish few fucts that came to cur knowl-
cigc, while we were inmates OF the Hos
pital attached to Libby Prison. We en-
joycd for several months daily access to
the Hospitals where the sick aud wound
ed, army of Union Soldiers received
treatment.
As result Of our observations, we
hereby declare our belief, that sine, the
battle of Chickamauga, the number Of
deaths per diem has averaged fully fity.
- 80 vnilipo diseases are Diarrhe, +,
Dt scnt1ry ana lypnoid urumV"t- -.
late, the per contage Of deaths has great
ly incrcascd--thc result uf causes tn t
have been long at work-as insufficient
food, clothing aud shelter, combined with
that depression of spirits brought on so
often by long confinement.
II may seem almost incredible, when
We affirm Of our personal knowledge,
that in the three Hospitals for Union
Soldiers, the average mortality, is near
ioriy.iyc per day. Aud upon the most
reliable testimony we are forced to be-
licvc that the deaths in the Tobacco Fac.
tory upon the Island, will raise the total
mortality among all the Union Prisoners
TO sixty per duy--or 1900 monthly.
The extremely reduced condition of
those brought from the Island, argues
that hundreds quite sick are len behind,
who, with us would be considered fit sub
jccts for Iluspital treatment. Such, too,
is the fact, as invariably stated by scores,
we have conversed with from that camp.
The same to degree holds true of the
prisoners in the city. ltwould be rca-
slnable estimate to rut the number who
are fit subjects for Hospitals, but who are
refused admttancc, nt five hundred. A
thousand are already under treatment In
the three Hospitals, aud the Confederate
Surgeons themselves say, the number of
patients is only limited by the small ac-
commodations provided! /! Thus, we huve
over ten per cent Of the whole number OF
prisoners hold classed as sick men, who
need the most assidious aud skillul at.
tention. Yet, in the ess, ntial matter OF
ralons, they are receiving nothing but
corn bread, and sweet potatoes. Meal is
no longer furnished TO any class of our
prisoners, except to the few officers In
the Libby Hospital, and all, sick or well,
officers or priyates, are now furnished
with very poor uIticle Of corn bread, in
place of wheat bread. Is this proper
food for Hospital patients, pros;rated
with Dysen,ary and Fever Ito say moth.
ing of the balance.
Startling instances of individual suffer.
ing, and horrid lectures of death from
protraeted sickness and semi. starvation,
we had thrust upon our attention. The
h'S' W """e W te P"oi SitueutcS HOtn
the Island was always for something to
oat--and we have seen in some instan-
ces die, emtching the half eaten crust
selErespect gone--all hope and ambition
gone--half clad. aud covered with Yer
min and filth. M7ny Of them were too
often beyond all reach of medical skin.
In one instance the shbulances brought
sixteen to the Hospital, and during the
night seven had died Again, eighteen
were brought, and eleven died in "a
hours Atano,hor time, fourteen were
admitted, and in single day ten died
Judging from what we have ourselves
seen and DO now, we do not hesitate
to say, that under a treatment. of sy Ste
metic abuse, neglect and scmi-starva,ion,
tho namber who are becoming perma-
nently broken down in their cons,i,u.
,ions, must be reekoned by thousands I
We leave il ios others to say, what is de-
Nanded by this state Of things. The
Ngfederate daily papers ia general
WIZ acknowledge tho truth Of all we
p''' Nrmed--but il is usually done
I'p'0OS"teir abusive edhorials-deeiar,