True Democrat., 1863-01-28
Laws of the Confederate Congress.
(Nn. 20
AN ACT to better provide for the sick and wound
 cd ot the army in HOspitals

AN ACT to better provide for the sick and wound
 ed of the army in Hospitals.
 The C,ngrcss Q tie Coafderate .&ates of America do enact That the commutat;on value of rations of sick and disabled soldiers in the hospitals of the Confede ate States, is hereby fixed at dollar, instetd O the commutation now allowed by law, which shall constitute the hospital fund, and be held by the commis5aly, and be paid by him from time U time, 10 the surgeon or assistant ceon in cha ge of the hospital Of which the soldier, whose ration commuted is inmate, upon the said surgeon assistant surgeons acquisition, made in writ lg, when necessary to purchase SUD- plies for said hospital: Provided, however, when said fund for any one hospital shall increase over and above the Il 1nthly expenditures of the to an amount exceeding the sum of five thousand dol lars, the said con Eissary shall be required to de- posit the said excess over and above the said five thousand dollars iI the treasury of the Confederate States, or such other D ace of deposit where gov ment moneys a:e order d to be kept; which said deposits, when made, nall be passed to the credit of the said Confederate $ tates, and be liable to funds sldig aeG6unteu Tor " tne safd hlssary in his monthly report and abs, ract az now required by law: And provided further, That all such sur geons and assistant surgeons no shall receive from the said commissary any part of said hospital fund.- to be expended for the of hospitals, shall be held liable for faithful application of it, and in a weekly account and abstract, to be made out and forwarded to the office of the surge on general
 
 show what disposition has been made of #, which account, abstract, and accompanying vouchers shall be placed on flle.
 SEC. 2 That the secretary of war is hereiv au- thorzed and directed to make contract wit, the several railroad companies and lines of boats, for the speediest practicable transportation of all sup plies purchased for the use of hospitals by agents accredited by the surgeon assistant surgeon in charge for that purpose donations by individuals, societies, states and it shall De lawful for the oua termaster general, to furnish general transpor tuton tickets to such agents upon all railroad trains and canal boats when engaged ln the actual ser vice of said hospitals, upon the request of said surgeon or as istaut surgeon.
 SEC 3. That there shall be allowed to each hos pital of the Confederate States, suits of clothing, consisting of shirts, pantaoons and drawers, equal to the number of beds in the same, for the of the sick while in the hospitals when ordered by the surgeon or assistant surgeon in charge, which said clothing shall be drawn upon the written re- quisiton of said surgeon or assistant surgeon, and shall be receipted for and kept hospital clothing, and be accounted for other public property. SEC. f. That there be allowed to each hospitA, with ratons and suitable places of lodging, the following matrons and female nurses and atteni- ants, viz: Two matlons, to be known and de9i@na ted as hospital natrons in chief, at salary not to exceed forty dollars per month each, whose gene ral duties shall be to exercise superlntenlence over the entire domestic economy of the hospital, to take charge of such delacies may be provided for the sick; to apportiOn them out required to sec that the food or diet is properly prepared and all such other duties may be necessary. Two matrons to be known and designated as assistant matrons, whose general duties shall be to superin tend the laundry to take charge of the clothing of the sick the bedding of the hospital; to see that they are kept clean and neat, and perform such other duties may be necessary, Ut salary not to exceed thirty five dollars per month each Two matrons for each ward, at salary not to exceed rlo pnth ooh to ha kpn op1l do signated ward matrons, whose general duties shall be to prepare the beds and Deddings of their respective wards; to that they kept clean and in order, that the food diet for the sick is carefully prepared and furnished to them, the me dcjne administered, and that all patients requiring careful nursing attended to, and all such other duties as may be necessary; and all surgeons and assistant surgeons in charge of hospital are here by authorized to employ such other nurses, either male or female, as may be necessary to the proper care and attention of the sick, at salary each not to exceed twenty-five dollars per month, and also the nece ssary cooks, at salary not 10 exceed twenty five dollars per month each, and one ward master to each ward at a salary not to exceed twenty five dollars per month each, giving prefer l ence in all cases to females where their services may best subserve the porpose, and in the event a sufficient number of such nurses and ward masters cannot be employed not liable to military service, and shall become necessary to assign to this duty soldiers in the service, then, upon the acquisition of such surgeon or assistant surgeon in charge of such hospitals the soldier or soldiers so assigned who are skillful and competent shall be permanent ly detailed to this duty, and shall only be remova- bic for neglect or inattention by the surgeon or assistant surgeon in charges Provided, In all cases that all other attendants and servants, not herein provided for, necessary to the service of said hos pta shall be allowed. as now provided by law
 SEC. 5. That the hospitals of the Confederate 1 States shall hereafter be known and numbered as 1 hospitals of a particular state, and in all casses where the same can be done without injury to the patentssor great inconvenience to the government, all sick or wounded soldiers, being citizens or re- sdents of such particular state, shall be sent to such hospitals may represent the same, and to such private state hospitals representing the same, which may be willing to receive them.
 SEc. 6. That all persons authorized to be en- ployed by section 4th of this act, who are engaged in the military service, and whose pay is not now provided for by law, shall be paid monthly by any