Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-03
THE RELATION OH TEFE sSEDECAE. PRO
FESSiON TO THE WAR


THE RELATION on TEFE MEDECAE. PRO
FESSION TO THE WAR.
The Importance of the medical staff Of the
Army was not, until the late war, fairly appre-
ciated, nor is now, perhaps, fully comprehend
ed or admitted When the results of its labors
shall be known, it will be found that, contrary
to the received theory that the physician IS
homo unius libri, and, therefore, only quail
fed for the application Of science to his special
calling, he has signaly evinced, in The pro
gress of events, all the qualities OF military
and executive agent, in an eminent degree.
To certain extent the value Of the profession
has been developed, and its claims recognized
by the Government
Prior to the war, the rank Of the surgeon
bore a very meagre relation to that Of other
and less meritorious officers. The head of the
Medical Bureau reached no higher grade than
that Of colonel Of cavalry, while the oldest
member of the corps, with history of duties
experiences, and privations dating from his
very entrance upon active life, passed down
to the grave wearing only the leaf of a major
The gallantry and skill Of the staff, both re-
gulars and volunteers, has challenged the adj
miraton Of the country, and the Government
could do nothing less than confer, rs it has
done, brevet rank upon the men, who, in field
and hospital, have braved death with as genu,
inc heroism, to say the least, as the soldiers
breastirg danger amid the contagious cnthu,
siasm of battle.
Nor did the surgeon linger only in the in
fected ward, and by the couch Of death diff:
fusing malady, but as occasion offered, he has
elected the perils OF the bloody conflict, and
with sword in hand instead Of The scalpcl has
fell, fighting, with his face 10 the foe, Such
was the fate of the noble WHITE, who on the
CORY field of Antieam, sank covered with
wounds at the head Of battalion.
The medical and surgical history Of the war
now in progress, will prove overwhelmingly
conclusive Of the extensive attainment and re
markabe skill of this branch Of the service.
No work Of the century will have produced
more profound impression than will this great
volume of surgical practice when it appears:
whether we regard the extent and variety of
experience it will present, the uneXamplcd
success in the treatment Of injuries hitherto
regarded hopeless, or the richness of lis phys
ological and pathological details, 1t will stand
forth monument Of devotion, sef.sacriiice
and energy as well as progressive science, Of
which the entire nation may feel Justly proud.
And how wonderfully have the prompt and
precise business qualities Of the profession been
revealed! Thousands OF sick and wounded
L.. IN, 10
hospital buildings, all their wants in medicine
andsubsistence promptly supplied. military
sanitaryand police regulations properly
under the direction of one ruling mind. IN this
correction the lahorS OF an officer like Surgeon
Josiah Simpson, the distinguished and esteemed
Medical Director of this District during the
war, can scarcely be appreciated, because not
easily understood by the outside world. And
when we reflect that Surgeon General Barnes
has had the direction and control Of the entire
machinery of the medical department over
the whole country--sl field, village and city.
and worked that vast and intricate ma
chinery with the precision. ability and success
Of a master spirit, we are constrained to rem
der homage TO the extraordinary merits Of the
medical staff of the army, and recognize the
honor and credit they have SO signaily achieved.
Men who have had little previously, to 10
with the marts of traffic, have exhibited an
amount ofjudgmentand ability in the prepare
ton OF important papers, the keeping Of com.
pick accounts, the selection of war material.
and the judicious disbursement OF public
monies, not surpassed in any other division of
the service. Instance Breyet Brigadier Gen,
eral Satterlee a nobleman Of natures stamp,
and a gentleman Of true scientific culture
Distinguished as a practical surgeon Of the
highest standing, he has shown remarkable
business talent, and, in charge Of the great
medical purveying depot of the country, has
been fully conscious Of his great responsible
ties, and in his immense operations has ever
had an eye single to the most economical dis.
tribution Of Government funds consistent
with the merits of the sick soldier. Some
opinion may be entertained of the labors of
this truly eminent surgeon by the published
statement Of his disbursements, amounting as
they do during the war 10 nearly 20, O00, 900 of
dollars! His issues embraced medicines of all
kinds, hospital stores, surgical instruments.
books, medical, &c; stationery, &c, dressings.
hospital clothing, bedding, furniture, appli-
ances, miscellaneous articles, &c. Of special
articles distributed may be mentioned 294, 800
ounces Of quinine, 1903 of sulphate of Gin
chonia, PSI lbs. Of camphor Is2, $50 lbs. of
magnesia, 1929 quart bottles of whisky,
l9l ,44S of sherry wine, 296, 592 Tbs. of extract
OF beef, 254,3l6 of concentrated milk. 1870. 6lr
bottles Of porter, 1863, sos lbs. Of crushed
sugar, (white,) 158,051 Tbs. tea. 1886 iby.
lint, 368,83o quires letter paper, G68, lis yard
of muslin, 239,7G dozen assorted bandageg.
479, s2S Shirts 500, l78 pairs of socks, 293 9&i
bed-sacks, 122,09 bedsteads, SOS. 2IS WOODEN
blankets, S12,668 sheets, 1O8, Sl9 dishes, &c.
DC. These constitute trifling part of the
issues made by this able officer to all parts of
the country during the war. We shall return
to this subject again at future time.