The National tribune., 1889-10-10
MEDICAL BOARDS.
GAR. Men Protest Against the One In MuskinRum
County, Ohio.

County, Ohio.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As reader of
your very interesting paper, and wishing to re-
port the feelings of the organization in which
you are deeply interested and for which your
efforts have been so well and wisely directed,
! regret to have to say that in Muskingum
County, Ohio, all is not harmony over the re-
organization of the Board of Medical Examin-
ers. The past history OF former constituted
Boards has not been creditable, as showing
sympathy for those who imperiled their lives
as well as health in order that the Union should
be preserved and the Nation live.
This the readers of your valuable paper will
admit to be true, when say over 500 applicants
for pensions have been rejected rs not pension
able, aud yet very large proportion oil them
are now on the pension roll. and some at as
high q rating as $50 per month. This has been
accomplished by asking u REORGANIZATION by
Medical Boards of other Counties, who have
found them reasonable; and as they have been
able to sustain this true diagnosis, as the doc
tors say justice has been melted out to them.
But the labor and expense has been burden
some upon the unfortunate applicant, and this
would not have been had we had humane ana
properly constituted Medical Board.
But the strangest feature of the past history,
rs well as the objection to the present Board, IS
that the continued member-the one who con-
tnued through the Democratic AdministrR-
he did say he did not care d--n who was
elected, did attain to the position at the com
mencement of the war Of Assistant Surgeon oil
the u 3. Army, and spent period In the hos
pital Mt st. Louis and the Northwest, very
favorable position, as he was not exposed on
the tented field with or without tent to
shelter under. Yet it was not long until he
asked to be retired on Captains pay, and
having some influential friends TO assist him,
he was retired, and returns to his home with
all the glory of short-lived position he had
occupied and returns to the active duties oil
his profession. But this was not oil of his good
luck. He makes application for Medical Ex'
aminer, and this position, with its emoluments
he has enjoyed ever since the war; and, in the
language of Scripture, he has "waxed fat and
kicked" and his kicking has been at every
man who would presume to think he is entitled
| TO pension. In fact, this man has not hest
tated to insult and degrade, if possible, every
| applicant for pension, unless no should Dc
| patient of his. or If party should be rejected
and he should be called in consultation and .
| good round fee be paid, his diagnosis would D'
| changed This said doctor had been Secretary
Of the Board" aud as ho would not affiliate
| with one of the retiring members OF the Board
| though the other member was young mar
he could manipulate, he felt it best to take
larger proportion OF usual tonic and go TO beC
/ and have his part Of the examinations con
Quoted in his bed-chamber; and after the re
| firing of the obnoxious member he would q
down into his Office and the plant member o
| the Board would hand over the minutes, ant
| all papers would then be nodded to the Score
tary's mind.
So | have to say that the CARS are no
pleased with the Board as now constituted, ant
that Commissioner Tanner did not go IA
enough, and would no consult the feelings o
the Grand Army he would not stop short OF
new Board. This is the conclusion of life
long Republican and member of the GAR
| Zanesville, o.. July Is, 1850.