Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-01
MEDICAL STATISTICS.

From the New York Commercial Advertiser ]
No other armies in the world, probaly, re-
ceived such careful medical care and treat.
ment as did our own during the progress of
the war. While the Government dispensed
with lavish hand every thing that could
contribute to the convenience and welfare of
our sick and wounded soldiers, the loyal peo-
pie through the country at all times held
themselves in readiness to forward special
medical assistance and supplies to an un-
limited extent. As a result, the number of
deaths from casualties and sickness was pro-
portionally small to the whole numbers of
troops engaged in the war from time to time.
Initiating the example Of the French Govern
ment, the War Department devoted consid-
cradle attention during the contest to medical
statistics, carefully preserving every thing
which might be valuable for future reference.
Surgeon Woodward, one of the attaches of
the Department, has now published a report
embracing many interesting facts connected
with its labors. During the Crimean war
there were Il, ,094 wounded and 2, 755 killed;
a total of IA, S49 The French lost 80, S6S
wounded and g. $50 killed; total of As, 11S.
During our war reports from one half the
regiments showed for the year ending June
go 1852 total of IL, 496 gunshot wounds.
During the succeeding year 55, 974 gunshot
wounds were reported from about three
fourth ofthe regiments. The battlefield lists
of the wounded for the years 1S64-65num-
bred 900 wounds of all descriptions
The cases of gunshot wounds m the head
from the commencement of the war until
the latter part of 1864, numbered about 5000
Of which 600 terminated fatally; 4l67
gunshot wounds in the face were reported
for the same time; l, 329 in the neck Z, 062
in the chest, and 3, 707 in the abdomen.
For the last quarter of 1868 and for the first
two quarters of 1864, 81, 24S cases of gunshot
wounds in the upper extremities were re-
ported, and for the year ending October /,
1864, 30,004 in the lower extremities.
There were in the Army of the Potomac
36,50S cases Of gunshot wounds during the
months of May, June and July.
The statistics bear out the general belief
that few hand-to-hand conflicts occur in an
engagement During the first three years
of the war only l05 sabre and AS bayonet
wounds were reported, and of these only two
thirds were received in action, the remain
der having been inflicted by sentinels or
patrols. Only twenty-five sabre wounds
were reported as the result of Sheridan's
fierce cavalry and infantry encounters with
Early in the Shenandoah. After the first
battle of Bull Run, several of our wounde
braves were bayoneted; one soldier who was
brought to Georgetown bore fourteen stabs
on his body. Only 1863 cases of lockiaw were
reported during the entire war Coming
now to mortality from disease, we find that
during the first year ending June, 1862,
there were only 1000 deaths out of a total
of SIS, ,9lS cases of sickness. During the sue
ceeding year here, 4o,630 deaths out of a
total of S7S,9lS cases of sickness. During
the succeeding year here, 40630 deaths out
of a total of ], l,465,57S cases Of sickness.
When we compare these figures with those
of preceding armies they will be found to be
very small. In the Mexican war, for in
stance, l0S OF our men died ouG of every 90
who were prostrated by sickness The Brit
ish army lost .232 in the Crimea, and the
French 500 oueef every 1000 sick. In con-
trast with these figures Surgeon Woodward
says, the motality Of our armies from disease
alone, excluding those absent or prisoners,
on furlough or deserted was 4S, per I,O00
Of mean strength, for the first year, ending
June 80, 1868, and 65.2 per 1000 during the
second year. The estimates for the sue
eeeding year have not yet been made out.