Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-07-29

How THE DAY GOES IN HosPITAL.--rhe
business Of the day begins at five o'clock. At
that hour the nurses busy themselves in clean
sing the spittoons, washing the faces and
srms Of the patients, sweeping out the wards,
and making everything tidy. Meanwhile the
dressers are at work, cleansing and bandaging
the wounds, causing intense pain by the nee
essary probings, pressures, plasterings, etc,
and great deal of comfort by their generally
cheerful reports, to the patients. of the i'm
provements perceptble. If they do not al
ways tell the truth, they are pardunable, for
it would be very cruel &c reveal every bad
symptom, 30 longss there is hope of ultimate
recovery. BY o'clock everything is ready
for breakfast, which is of three classes Reg
ular, which is for the mass of the patients
we'll enough to eat heartily; special, which
is for those whose wounds or health require
more delicate food and extra. for those (gen-
orally oficers) who pay their dollar day for
subsistence. Each class Of food is substan-
tial and excellent, well cooked and neatly
served. The stomach would be very delicate
which would revolt at any of it. After break
fast. there is more sweeping, hopping, bed
changing, etc, and two or three times a week
a general scrubbing. At regular intervals
through the day, there is q distribution OF
milk-punch, beef-tes. stmulants of various
kinds, medicines, etc, according to the di
rections for the day, PLACED at the head of tn,
bed Of each patient. Dinner at twelve; sup
per at six, and the retirement of the day nur
ses and the extinction of lights at nine. Their
come the nght-wstohers and silence. Foi
hours together, sometimes, there is the still
ness of death-when you can bear the tread
OF q mouse; and yet. amid this stiffness ther,
is vast deal of pain, quietly aud uncom
planingly borne by the noble fellows who
have suffered in battle. God bless them for
their heroism in the field. and for their eaua
heroism on their weary touches A grateful
country will remember and reward them
Throughout the night, at fixed hours, ther,
is the distribution Of medicines and stimu.
lsnts. the wettiDg Of the bandsges, and such
other attentions as are required for the com.
fort of the patients. And so wear away the
long, weary hours Of the night.
Although there is so much suffering, anC
so little to make one merry, in these depotl
of MANNED men, there is nevertheless some
times something amusing happening. 1t i,
an era for instance when some of the one-leg.
Red fellows can take to crutches. When ihi,
occurs. spontaneous congratulations from tn,
recumbent crowd follow him whenever h,
makes his appearance, with an occasional 4" g,
it. ye cripple y " double quick - dom
kick me-" DC, &C., causing universal hilarity
and bringing smile to the lips of the wors
cases. The happy conynlescent takes all thi
In good part, and sometimes replies, A" II vii
be your turn next, my boy" " be patient
Cap; when you get your cork leg on it will
be all right, "this is jolly, but Slow" "tw
legs are better than three and half on a re
treat" DO, &c, forgetting his loss in tn
Joy OF the moment. And then, when som
one is well enough to ask for a furlough to x
home Itisa theme OF conversation through
out the ward, and the happy fellow hobble
from one cot TO another to communicate tn
good news. There are a great many source
Of happiness in this world, after all ette
from Washington, BY George Dat0son