The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-24
Gen. Mcdowell and the BOara OF
Health.

Whatever may be the merits of the con
troversY between the Board of Health and
the General commanding this department,
the Chairman of the Board, in his ably.
written reply TO the General as published on
the 10Th inst, makes an exposure which we
trust will result in benefit to the private
soldier by directing public attention to his
most urgent needs. If recruits for the army
are compelled TO live in dark, nosome gun.
rooms, dripping with moisture if young
men whose ordinary health must have been
perfect to insure their entrance into
the service at all, are quartercd in places
that undermine that health forever, it is
surely full time that the War Department
should be 50 informed, that it may apply a
remedy.
For evidence in proof Of these facts Dr.
CEcCARINI, the Chairman quotes from OIL.
cial documents furnished by the army itself.
ltappears that for the want Of suitable build.
ings it has been for years the practice at Cover.
nor's Island to house new recruits in places
not fit for mans habitaton, such MS Rotten
Row and Castle William, and this too against
the repeated rcmonstrances of the highest
medical authorities. The former of these
places, Assistant Surgeon GUILD in his re.
port on the yellow fever on Governors
Island in 1856, describes as "a row of old
dilapidOtcd frame tenemcnts, occupied by sol
dicrs' frmilics y ard he says that the only To-
cality within the limits OF this post at all sus.
picious Of giving rise to this disease il that
excrcscence Of the island, Rotten Row" 4
board Of officers convened in New York city
during the prevalence of cholera on Cover
nor's Island in 1867, thus reported on Castle
william; at il strongly recommended by
this Board that Castle William be discon
tinued as n barracks for recruits and men
and that permanent barracks sufficient to ac
commodate from 900 to 500 men be erected
without delay. 1t is the opinion of the medi.
cal officers that the Castle is not suitable for
barracks, being damp and cold giving rise to
rheumatism and dyscntery and the records
OF the post show that for a succession of
years infectious diseases have commenced
among the recruits occupying Castle vii
liam"
The soldiers on Governors Island known as
the permanent party have excellent barracks; ;
but we understand that the new recruits
are, notwithstanding these official remon.
strances still quartcrcd N the localities above
described The stories about the filth and
dirt at the post VIII not be credited Ly those
familiar with the island The present
amiable and accomplished commander prob.
ably docs all in his power to promote the
health and comfort of his command Lut he
cannot tear down buildings without orders
nor erect others without the necessary ap
preparations by Congress, AS for the &c
eumula;!on u recruits on the island, it is for
them simply question of Castle William or
no shelter at all except tents
The fact Ia, Governors Island ia no worse
of than many other posts in tho army.
Nearly every station has its Rotten Row. ard
every seaport fort it's long line of damn, un.
wholesome classmates, into which ofllccrs
and men are thrust, who might easily be
provided with better shelter At two or
0ISe Rosta sene efforts have been made to