The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-06-25
The Sanitary Commission.

The Sanitary Commission is simply the National
sympathy for the Soldiers and his Friends, organized
into an INSTITUTION, TO make it permanent, and sys-
tematized in its operations, TO make these most extern
sive and most effective, while at the same time
preventing them from interfering with the military
or medical operations of the Government.
The Government must, of necessity, do its work for
the disabled soldier, IN a general, rapid, and uniform
way; It's first aim being to maintain an increase the
efficiency Of its armies, and its aid to those who are
left In the hospitals, or who have fallen on the field,
being administered on a certsin average level, with
out the possibility of any careful and sympathetic
discrimination of the cases of special hardship aud
need. which cases are still always occurring.
The Commission comes in, then, not TO interfere at
any point with the operations of the Government,
but to supplement and complete these; supplying
their deficiencies, and rendering the aid, which they,
in the nature OF the case, cannot.
1t commences its labors with the careful prelimi-
nary INSPECTION of Camps and Hospitals; and brings
the best medical culture and skill which the country
affords to bear upon the work of preventing disease,
and removing or graduating its causes. In this way
it has materially reduced the percentage of sickness
throughout the army, and has conferred al unspeak-
able benefit on the National cause.
It follows the army next to the BATTLE FIELD, and
ministers TO the soldiers wounded and sick after an
engagement. In the army the Medical department
is dependent on the Quariermaster's department for
the transportation of its supplies; and while an
engagement is in progress everything must be SUBJ
ordinated TO the rapid forwarding of those military
supplies. guns, ammunition, ETC., which are instant
ly needed on the ground, TO prevent defeat, or turn
defeat into victory. The Sanitary Commission,
therefore, having but one branch to attend TO, and
having its independent means of transportation. gets
its supplies upon the ground sooner than the Gov
eminent can; while, in addition to this. it furnishes
fresh clothing, fruits, jellies, wines, fresh meats, and
other delicacies, which the Government, without the
risk of incalculable waste, cannot undertake to
afford.
From the Battle field, it follows the soldier to the
HosPITAL; and gives hun there the care of nurses
more tender, a%ssiduous, accomplished, and attentive
than the government can furnish, with supplies of
food more choice and tempting. and of clothing more
carefully selected and adapted to his individual
wants. 1t puts a consecratei WOMAN in the Hospi- |
tai ward, TO make it a cheerful and homelike place;
to bring into it books, music, flowers, birds, prints,
etc to write letters for those who cannot write for
themselves; and to difuse through the otherwise
gloomy apartment, an atmosphere of womanlike
sympathy and serenity.
If the mother or the sister Of the suffering soldier
comes to visit him at the Hospital, and personally to
wait on him, the government can of course do
nothing for her. 1t would invite every species of
imposition if it attempted it. But the Sanitary Com
mission provides a Home for her, where she can be
comfortably lodged and fed. at a small expense, or
if she is very poor-at no expense at all, until she
AT The same time il takes the utmost care
that this assistance shall not be abused.
When the disabled soldier is discharged from the
the government is released from further
of him the moment the papers are in his hands.
The Commission then again takes him in hand;
keeps him from the clutch of the knaves and
who are always on the watch for him at
ust that point; supplies him with a comfortable
nome for the day or more of his ~tarrying in the city;
him with tickets for his journey home at
laf price-through an arrangement it makes with
Railroad Companies; sends an agent with him, if he
8 too sick to travel alone; and afterwards collects
or him ARREARS OF PAY. III sums varying from
hree dollars TO three or four hundred-all without
barge; though the last operation, the collection of
ay, often involves q long tedious, and widely ex-
correspondence.
II the man has died, in the camp or in the hospi-
n, and his friends have lost trace of him, the Com
Mission even undertakes the work of finding out
here he died, and of learning and reporting all the
possible concerning his sickness, death,
nd burial; a work which absolutely could not be
ccomplished except through such q philanthropic.
idely-ramifed, National Institution.
II Is perecuy paIpauIe, tuen, IrUm TITS rupIu anu
lrsory sketch of the office and work of the Sanitary
that it needs large amounts of READY
oNEY, over and above the supplies of articles which
re constantly sent to it, to continue its beDeicent
Aside from the aid which it furnishes
the wounded on the battlefield it conducts Five
her classes of operations for the benefit of soldiers
ID their friends; and for these il must employ many
its principal officers, as We have
id before, receive no compensation whatever for
cir services. 1t requires $4,000 a month, to en-
lie it to do all its work. And never was money
expended than that which passes through its
'easury.
1t has prevented disease. 1t has alleviated pain.
has saved multitudes of precious lives. 1t has
mforted, without exaggeration, Millions of anxious
arts. 1t has given expression to the longing love
d sympathy alike Of the poorest and the richest
IN the midst of whom the army has gone forth.
Id it ha constantly. nobly, aud most powerfully
the army itself-more than by thousands
ded to its ranks-through the exhibition which :
has made of the love and enthusiastic admiration il
the Nation towards the army the Nation, whose a
Int hand undoubtedly the Government is; but u
lose left hand, nearest its heart, strong to save if u
t, strike, and full of gifts, has been from the very o.
ginning of the War to The SANITARY COMMISSION. ri
c.