Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-20

assuming typhoid aspect, and the gener-
al appearance Of the men particularly in
the regiments comparatively lately enlist
ed, is depressed. They are in need Of
clothing and blankets. Many have no
change Of clothing, nor have had for many
weeks. Consequently they are filthy in
with the 33d New Jersey. All the hospi-
tai stores Of this regiment-snd it came
out excellently provided for BY the State
authorities-were lost in the Tennessee
River by the capsizing Of the boat in which
they were. Shoes, blankets and pants
have not yet been furnished in sufficient
Quantities by the Quarter Masters Depart
ment, and changes Of stockings, shirts
and drawers sre generally wanted. The
Commisssry Department is tssked to its
utmost to furnish the absolute necessaries
of life, and there have been no issues Of
potatoes or onions since our return from
the fall campaign. A limited supply Of
beans and rice has, as far ss | am aware,
been the only issue of dry vegetables, and
and one three fourth's ration Of whisky,
partially distilled, the only issue Of spirits
! in the same time. The amount Of fresh
meat furnished has also been limited.
The following extracts from the reports
of different regimentsl surgeons will IL
| lustrate our present condition:
nNot over oRe-third Of our men have q
change Of under clothing, and not one half
warm when on duty nearly or quite all
are compelled TO do their cooking in parts
of old worn out csnteens." Surgeon
Spooner, 61st o. V. l.
"Diarrhes prevails to an alarming ex-
tent and Of q character not 10 be control
led to any great extent by medicines
About two thirds of the whole command
are more or LEES affected by It, The ra
tions are scsnty and i'll cooked, scarcely
any vegetables being furnished" As
sistsnt Surgeon Mathews, l4sd New
York Volunteers.
"For nearly year no full rations o
vegetables have been issued to the l4ls
New York Volunteers. During this tim
vegetables have not been issued in one
tenth the quantities allowed by the arm,
regulations to men in the field. The mel
have lost their relish for hard bread AM
bacon. Their blood is impoverished, snC
symptoms of scorbutus appear. Wbel
they get sick it is impossible TO treat then
with desirable success from this cause.
TSurgeon Besks, 14lst New York VOlun
teers.
"The prevailing disease is diarrhsa an
other affections Of the alimentary cana
which can be traced directly to the Insult
cheney and irregulsrity Of rstions an
cooking, and particularly TO having beel
: without any vegetables Surgeon Huh
sehmau, 26th Wisconsin Vols.
An unusually large number of on
men are suffering from disrrhea, and Q
that character over which medical skillhs
but little control. We can attribute tn
condition only, think, to an impoverish
/ ed condition Of blood caused by an in
proper and too scanty diet" Assistan
Surgeon Hong, lS4th New York VOlun
teers.
would not have you think that this
owing to any lack Of efficiency in the off
GERS managing the Quartermsster an
Oommisssry Departments, for 1 am col
7inced that as far as those in this Corr
are concerned, no exertion has been spare
and no troubls avoided to remedy it, bU
/ such are the facts and I state them plsinl
. in order to explain the present SanitaT
condition Of the corps, aud to lay its claim
fairly before the Sanitary Commission.
+ The articles that are imperatiVely neede
r both as prophylstics with the well, an
q remedies for the i'll, are potatoes, onion
vinegar, soft bread, dried and sub-sci
fruits, fermented cabbage, pickles, sou
t and spirits in diet, and shoes and unde-
t clothing of all kinds in quantities sufi
, cient to restore normal functional a.
ton and furnish healthy blood for severl
thousand men.
Until this change is effected, the SuI
9 geon must continue to witness his mo-
approved remedies fail and see his case
approach an inevitably fatal termination
1t is the unanimous opinion Of all ii
a medical officers that no symptoms Of in
r provement are manifesting themselve
p that, on the contrary the hygienic cond
tion Of the corps is deteriorating day b
day. We need help and we need it sool
I and 1 cannot refrain from repeating m
earnest solicitations to the Sanitary Con
MISSION through you, that early efforts /
made to provide at least to some extent fC
these, our urgent necessities. am avail
how many appeals for aid, the Commissio
receives, but am also aware how nobly
responds to them, and this it is that en-
boldens me to state our wants fully, on
perhaps with some impunity.
With great respect
Your obsdient servan',
DR.. G. BRINTON, Surg'n U. s. Vols.