The Ottawa free trader., 1889-04-20


saints. II Is source Of satisfaction anC
pride 10 my declining days, that we had 81
many good, worthy men whom did much
respect and honor, and shall 10 the end Of
life.
Playing OFF, was extensively practceC
all through the army In the war of the re
bellon, AZ | had best opportunities of learn
ing. From all accounts II must have beer
common In all armies, coeval with ciyiliZa
ton, 1t WAS one of the highly important
new subjects In which the volunteer sur
geon, had, early, well TO acquit himself, tC
become efficient In his office. Many med
ical officers found 1t one of the most seriou.
cases they had to treat, For, like an infec.
tious disease, having a strong Uid,ts, 1t had
great tendency 10 spread among suscepti'
BILE subjects, such as are large element in
the best armies. And feigned diseases
Is prominent speciality in the curriculum
of studies prescribed the candidate for
surgeoncy In all regular armies.
II was source Of serious embarr IS.
ment 10 US, comparative novices, just out Of
private practice, where the doctor is seldom
called without presumably good reason,
being thus placed In severe straits in time
of active operations In this:
The surgeon must not countenanCe nor
be In any way party to such imposture as
this, nor so dull Of perception as to be de
ceiyed by it. If unskiled TO detect it he
proves himself Incompetent to his Office
and will accordingly be liable to dismissal
in disgrace with lots Of accrued pay and
allowances On the other hand, for any
neglect Of closest care and attention In re-
lieylng men from duty when unable for il,
which he must and is presumed ever 10 be
able to determine, or failing In ought 10
render due and full succor, to the extent of
the resources of the country, to the really
sick and disabled, he must again answer
with his commission, and everlasting dis
grace in addition Vulgarly, he is "right
between hawk and buzzard" In this.
Not alone have army surgeons had TO
wrestle with the "play offs So exten.
sively have these deceptions obtained that
" feigned diseases have long been a
specially in medicine from their preva-
lence in all great charities hospitals, aims
houses and penal establishments. To one
who has had wide opportunity for obsery-
alton in the army and in civil service il is
almost amazing what resources of artifce
cunning and deception, this practice ex7
hibits. No man so vigilant, circumspect
alert, even of the elect, learned, but is fated
at times to be effectively deceived. in
tend yet to relate some interesting cases,
which, though an acknowledgement of
discontinue, were of phenomenal interest.
Though their recital will have to be de-
ferred because of the space required in |
which fully opresent them, they are fairly |
within the surgeons sphere of observa. |
tons. And | reiterate: am writing not of |
the mere formidable, brilliant and exploit
alive aspect of war, bat OF that of its weak
ness, of those failings, defects, deficiencies,
which humliate our pride, belonging to
The dark side Of the picture of " the pomp !
md panoply of war; Alas! How very
sad it all is! And war in every aspect is
)nly barbarism. have repeatedly re,
erred to the overwhelming disposition of
Col. Cushman to go out of his true sphere
md more minutely than his Office required
investigate details of subordinate depart
nents, lie was so given to this until he
esigned that while 1t was wholly within
lis purview, 1t was nevertheless often veX'
ltious as needless, and always added to my
numerous embarrassments. One day, as
lsual he "took me in hand for allowing
hese fellows about the hospital to be so
lovenly and the steward having so many
I'D duds and clothes and things lying
Iround. They play Off on you too
much Major You ought to fetch them up
harply TO the mark" Making explanation
# the case to no purpose, he suddenly cut
fl all debate by the rebuke: "You know
Iothing of human nature" | said, "Ah!
)olonel, your study and experience with it
ave been in its strength. 1t has been
nine TO contemplate itin Its enfeeblement,
wholly divested of all accessories and re-
ources of power, whatever"
He replied, Il believe you are right,
Iajor.' And his head dropped as he re-
Ired with look OF meditation. To the
lst interview ever had with the Colonel,
g always addressed me- as Major-the
visionary title being Surgeon
Intending to have introduced in this two
r three of my most distinguished and
pecimen play offs" | find it will overdo
, and so defer. WM W. WEIGH.
GALEsBuRG, Ill, April tG, 1889.
Il