Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-01
TMR ANDHRsoNvIl.IR PtstsON,


from the daily reports Of rebel Surgeons
respecting the condition OF the Anderson
vile, Ga, prison:
On the 18th of August Surgeon B. j.
Head reported that he found "a want OF
proper bedding and diet" in the First Di-
vision.
Surgeon G.. ID. Rice advised, OIL the 9th
of August, that the ''marshy ground be COW
cred with sand as speedily as possible,' and
tnat "barracks be erected for the shelter OF
those who have no protection from the
weather."
Surgeon R. Z. Madd on the 10th reported
/ that 'Some of the wards have no hunks,
+ and thereby suffer much from being on the
damp ground, which is not sufficiently pro-
tected by bitches around the tents. The
/ food is badly prepared. The bread is baked
/ of meal, without being sifted, and the meat
! Is not cooked properly"
Z On the same day Surgeon r. Nj. Patterson
Z In his report on the Second Division said:
Z "On visiting the dead-house, find great
negligence In interring the dead, some OF
the bodies having lain as many as four days.
Such cor rtinued negligence must certainly
create an epidemic, and measures should be
taken for an immediate remedy"
On the Ilth, Surgeon j. j. Bird reported
the interior stu marshy, and advised, as he
solicited ''better privy arrangements"
Surgeon l.. j. Fitzpatrick, on the 18th,
asked for hunks for the I'd ward, and that that
ward sbe provided with bedding, either Of
cotton or straw, with mosquito bars to pro-
tect those with gangrenous sores from the
flies"
On the same day Surgeon w. j. Reeves
reported that "having visited the different
wards, find the tents In bad condition, a
great many leaking, and great many. OF
the patients lying on the ground, getting
very wet when 1t rains; also find rations in
sufficient"
Surgeon VIM. Magill reported-"First
that the patients diet Is anything but what
it should be; that they are suffering for the
want of vegetables. l also find that they
are suffering Tor the waut of hunks ana pea
ding, as well as covering, being destitute ofdtt.
| also find that the nurses are not as atten-
tive as they should be-"
Surgeon W. p. Sheppard reported on the
18th, on the First Division, shat find the
ground entirely too small for the sick, and
the sick badly accommodated, and their
tents in very bad condition, as they near
ly all leak. recommend that the sick have
a better diet. and some of them more cloth
ing"
10Th:
.'In the 1st, ID and 81 wards we have no
hunks, the patients being compelled to lie
on the ground, many of them without
blankets and some of them without clothes.
If there are any bedsacks in Dixie, 1t is to
/ be hoped that they will be procured also.
We need straw very badly, especially for
the 9TH ward. We have men in this ward
who are living moving mass of putrifac-
ton, and cannot possibly be cured of their
wounds unless we can make them more
comfortable.
"We experience great difficulty in pro-
curing the medicines prescribed, and. as we
have to use mostly indigenous remedies, we
cannot use them properly, not having any
vessels to prepare them in. Could you not
procure camp kettle for each ward, to be
used for that purpose only? l would also
respectfully ask for half dozen wash
basins for the 9TH ward, tor washing pur-
poses-the ones we have been using for
dressing wounds and ulcers are not fit for
other uses. We also need few barrels for
water. Every ward needs mugs for medi-
cines; also bottles"
On the same day Surgeon j. w. Howell
reported that .'the absence of any hygienic
influences are too palpable to require any
comment. The crowded condition of the
prison Is known to you, nor need mention
that an August sun developes vast amount
%
prison, but those surrounding it. These
are all evident. desire, however, to make
the following suggestions:
81. AS there are many inmates OF the
prison too sick and feeble to get through
the crowd and report at sick-call, and as
many die from -- when jammed in
such a crowd, recommend that it be made
the duty of each medical officer on duty at
the stockade TO visit such cases in their
quarters, and make the necessary prescrip-
tions for such members of his detachment"
On the same day Surgeon o. o. Collins
reported:
during sick-call. At present 1t is impossible
for all the sick to get out; the little gate
through which they enter Is not sufficient
to admit all. 1 think it would be better to
open one-half of the large gate, which.
would give ample room. Again, think
the wound-dresser should be supplied with
a sufficient quantity of necessary articles,
and be made to stay at his post the whole
time during sick-call. There are quite a
number of wounds left undressed every
day."
On the 9th, Surgeon r. E. Alexander re-
ported in the hospital OF the First Divis-
ion:
~ therefore recommend utensils for each
division and cooks, so as to have all their
rations prepared. also recommend a va
riety of splints being made for fractures, as
there Is not splint In the hospital. They
are much needed. Also detail for getting
indigenous remedies for each ward"
On the same day Surgeon Stromburg re-
ported:
sI have visited the second ward at vari-
Gus times, and find the patients in the diff
ferent wards suffering from seorbutics, di-
arrhea, dysentery, &c. They are all in a
very depiorable condition. They are all
needing bedsacks, straw, &C., without
which It is impossible to treat them success
fully. They also need q change of linen,
some of them being entirely without cloth
ing of any kind. would also suggest that
each ward be furnished with small oven
or skillet, and camp kettle, for the pur-
pose of cooking for the patients. Also be-
ing out of Put. Irini, we need corn meal
for pcultices, which hope you will cause
to be issued to-day, as the surgical ward is
greatly in need of poultices to dress
wounds and ulcers. lido not think that the
police do their entire duty. Also that the
nurses and attendants be required to keep
the wards in better ORDER"
On the 18th, Surgeon D.. w. Massee re-
ported:
II would recommend that hunks be fur
nished the sick, so that they may be raised
from the bare ground. If they cannot be
furnished, that a sufficient number of pass
es be granted to the nurses that they may
90 out and gather boughs and straw for the
men to lie on, and thereby alleviate much
suffering. / would also call your attention