Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-30

ter. who locks it up in his receptacle.
Through her agency, the walls, which are
papered with coarse hardware paper, are
covered with pictures and Biblical texts.
The glaring windows are neatly curtained.
She arranges bookcase in the centre of
the ward, and fills 1t with books donated
for the use of the patients. She watches
to see that each patient is properly
cared for by the attendants. At times
she takes seat by the side Of some poor
fellow and writes letter to some loved
one at home. In an extreme case she will
take her place by the side of patient and
watch him just as sister would. A thou
sand delicate touches throughout the ward
show where her graceful hand has BEEN
At night, when her labor for the day is
finished, she retires to her little Nurse
House, or meets her sister nurses in Its
diminutive drawing-room, and has So
ciable chat-or perhaps receives a call from
brother in the Army of the Potomac, or
a friend from the North. Such is the hos
pital life of these delicately reared ladies.
Our readers must not, however, take it for
granted, that this hospital business is all
rose-color. AT times-say after a great
and bloody battle hes been fought, and the
wounded are brought to Washington
by the thousand, the Armory Square
Hospital presents far different appear
ance. Previously it had been cleared out
of all patients then convalescent and par
tally recovered. who were takon to the
Baltimore, Philadelphia and other hosPit-
ais. Owing to its proximity to the land
ing. all the worst cases of the wounded
were brought to this hospital. There it is
that these ladies show their heroism in
ministering to the wants Of the poor fel-
lows, maimel and torn by fragments Of
viIlainous shells, or whose limbs were be-
ing amputated or resected, among their
groans or delirum. How far more re-
splendent she appears engaged in her holy
work, than she possibly could in the draw
ing room.
The most refreshing feature Of Armory
Square Hospital is the general appearance
of cheerfulness that prevails in all the
wards. The immaculate cleanliness that
universally prevails in all departments, the
neat appearance of the white beds, covered
with the frost-like white musquito nets
the contented appearance of the patients
all tond to produce that effect. The diet
dealt out is of the best quality, and none
can find fault with it. 1t is divided into
three classes, namely-ordinary extra and
special. The ordinary diet is for the con-
valeacents, which consists of regular
soldiers ration the extra diet il
for the class who are recovering
and about becoming convalescents
consisting of bread, butter, coffee
tea, vegetables, &c, The special diet con-
sists ofany thing the patient asks for, which
is found to comprise some sixty different
articles of food. These are all purchased
from fund made up from the proceeds o.
the sales of swill, bones, and other garbage
which produces $40 a month the sutler'.
tax, which produces $l2O> month; and
the pay of the eighteen volunteer lady
nurses, amounting to some $3.50 month,
which is generously devoted to that pur.
pose, all of which, added to the govern
ment allowance to each soldier and
to what is donated from out.
side, enables Dr. Bliss to grant the request
of any sick or wounded soldier for any lit
tie articles of luxury he might ask for.
When it is considered that the hospitals
haveas high as !, 400 patients, it will be seer
that it requires the highest amount of sys.
tenn to e1pend this money in such way as
not to produce waste, and at the same time
have every thing on hand that patient
may ask for.
For the purpose of facilitating the work
every article of food is numbered. To il
lustrate Milk is known as No. II; Gus
tard, No. 81; Blackberries, No GA, &c
1t would seem as though No AZ would be
a dry substitute for Corn Starch Pudding.
When the Assistant Surgeon leach ward
has one, goes on his stated round to visit
patients, he writes on a printed form the
medical prescription, ascertains what the
patient desires in the way of special diet,
and writes it down in figures on the same
form that the prescription is written on
The following is a specimen:
RE-oRD OF TREATMENT AND DIET. u.
NAME. WARD P. DIsEAsE.
| 1 Rnd 10 1