The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-16
Sanitary Commission.
FAIRFAX.

Mn. EDITOR :-In answer to frequent ques.
tions respecting the above institution VIII you
please insert the following:
The work Of the Commission Is carried on
under two general heads-Inspection aud He
lief. For the first, n corps Of melcal officers,
known as Sanitary Inspectors, has been created,
whose members are distributed through oil the
great armies of the United States Their busi-
ness is TO carry on regular series OF inspec-
tions Of the troops and hospitals, SO rs to keep
the Chief of Inspection informed OF their con-
dition. In making these inspections u Is en-
pec,ed that they confer directly with the 9th.
GERS in charge, and MD them, By advice or 9TH
erwise, in any emergencies that may require
such aid Wherever defects occur, their 6usi-
ness is especially to solicit remedial means nom
the officer directly In charge, and II this source
of relief fail, then to report the case to Others
higher in authority. These duties, which may
be called advisory and preventive, do not con-
stitu,e the whole of the inspectors duty. lie
has also scientific duties, comprising the collec
ton Of statistical data, the examination OF local
causes of disease, the effects OF certain KINDS OF
clothing, food, Of long marches, Nc, &C., up
on the men and other subjects calling forth
high order of professional training. 49,,
The work of Relief is divided into two kinds,
that which is rendered in accordance with the
order Of q medical officer, and that which Is
given directly TO the soldier, separate from his
command or hospital, and which is styled "spe-
cial relief" For the due execution OF the hrst,
the Commission has regular special relief agents
in every army, and Others who visit hospitals
likely TO be in want of necessary articles. The
people demand that no soldier suffer, II help
can reach him. These relief agents are their
ministers. They not only visit comfortable nos
pitals In out of.the.way places OF security, but
Is -. apI O.
6eli--as at the battle of observation-disclosures.
inc comforts while the ballsare whistling around
their heads. In some armies an agent lives in
each corps, il supplied with large wagon kept
constantly full Of such supplies rs are needed
in the field, and shares the hardship OF the sol.
diers' life. This plan IL adopted IN the army of
the Potomac, where under the direction OF DR.
Lewis II, Steiner, Chief Inspector, and j. War
ner johnson, Field Superintendent, Il has been
quite successful. By constant association with
the officers of a corps, the ent becomes fully
able to detect wants, and Is enabled to satisfy
them with the greatest promptness aud GER
tainty.
The general purpose Of thcspecial relief work
Of the Commission is
"ist To supply to the sick men Of the new
~ arrived regiments such medicines. food and
care rs it is impossible for them to receive in
the midst OF the confusion, and Of the unavoid-
able lack of facilities. from their own officers.
The men 20 be thus aided are those who are not
40 sick as % have q claim upon the general hVs
pital, and yet need immediate care to guard
them against serious sickness.
2. To furnish suitable food, lodging, care and
ass stance tn men who are honorably discharg.
ell from service, sent from general hospitals or
from their regiments. but who are often delayed
n day or more-sometimes many days-betore
they obtain their papers and pay.
3. To communicate with distant regiments In
behalf Of discharged men whose certificates OF
disability or descriptive LISTS on which to draw
their pay prove To lie defective the invalid sol
diers meantime being cared for, and not expos
ed 10 the fatigue and risk Of going in person to
their regiments tn have their papers corrected.
4. To act as the unpaid agents or attorneys
of discharged soldiers who are too feeble or Too
utterly disabled to present their own claims at
the paymaster's office.
S. To look into the condition OF discharged
men who assume to be without means to pay
the expense of going to their homes, AMI to
furnish the necessary means where We find the
man is true and the need real.
q To secure 10 disabled soldiers railroad tick
cts at reduced rates, and through an agent ut
the railroad station see that these men are not
robbed or imposed upon by sharpers.
7. To see that all men who are discharged
and pail off do Mt once leave the city WASH
iprton1 for their homes or in cases where
they have been induced by evil companions to
remain behind, to endeavor TO rescue them and
see them started with through tickets to their
own towns.
q To make reasonably clean and comfortable
before they leave the city such discharged men
as are deficient In cleanliness and clothes.
Q. To be prepared to meet at once with food
mr. other ali such immediate necessities rs arise
when sick men arrive In the city in large num-
bers. from hattie fields or distant hospitals.
TO- To keep watchful eye upon oil soldiers
who are out Of hospitals yet not in service, and
give information to the public authority Of
such soldiers rs seem endeayoring to avoid du =.
~ or to desert from the ranks"
In the business Of the special relief depart
ment, both East and West, are enlisted many
energetic, whole ouled men and women. who
take great pleasure In thus contributing to the
needs of our men. There may be some persons
who will cavil at this work, and who sneeringly
ask, Where are the officers Of the medical and
other departments, that such work as this VI
.pecial relief Is reQuiredi The fact Is simply
this. that while the Medical Department has
made larger aud wiser provision for the sick
and wounded than the world ever saw before,
there Is not and cannot be minuteness OF de-
tail and a waiting at every corner to give TO
at home In their anxious love ask for, set this
work needs to be done, and therefore We who
are simply the peoples heart aud county do the
work. But n the Medical Department were to
ATTEMPT Il In all i,s minutis Of detail, their
powers for their own hundred fold greater work
would be weakened 10 way that would hnd no
Justification"
The Sanitary Commission has also Hospital
Directory In which arrangements are made for
supplying information relative to all patients
in The army hospitals. This Information Is fur
nished gratuitously.
The officers Of the Commission arc working
with quiet enthusiasm which could not b OBJ
tanned for money or any other reward, and cv.
cry employee will End II source Of incalcula.
bic pleasure In the future that he once lab0red
in Its ranks at the command Of great people
whose SOULS heSrtiest wish and desire was that
no suffering should sxist In the army Of the
Union that might DO prevented by anything
procursble through money or kind words"
..The Commission has distributed clothing,
concentrated food fresh vegetables. stimulants,
reading matter, So, TO the value OF seven MIL
lion dollars.