The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-11

proved heavenly mamma To us ; particularly
10 our patients with premonitions of scor'
Jutus
In writing out this group Of phenomena,
aud the peculiar condition OF the subjects,
for medical publication, ignorant Of any
authority for Il name, designated 1t gen.
orally as "lndigesion and Nal Assimils-
ton" notice that rather recently In some
prominent medical journal Il physician Of
note has described number Of cases ap.
pearing In his practice, wherein symp-
toms and progress were very similar 70
mine as also circumstances indicating
them. He names II mon Nutrition"
After had settled upon the pathology
Of these cases, and instituted successfully
the inferential treatment, Col. Boucher,
the Corps Medical Director, called TO con
suit me about "some very singular and OBJ
stinate cases many medical officers were
encounterinG, in which the men were
weak, llstless and respondent; always In
suitably hungry, eating everything, and
their food did them no good withal per
sistent lienteric dlarrhoea-all symptoms
obstinately unyielding to any and whatever
treatment"
Fully explaining my theory of causes,
and inductively the evident needs of ele,
ments lacking In the blood, which, excel
lent and varied as were the regular army
rations, they failed to supply, he immedi'
ately comprehended the situation. Having
concurrent authority with the Corps Com
mander, Gen Blair, we decided upon list
of articles he would have added TO the
commissary supplies, to be drawn for I'm
mediately. No change In the regular table
, but extra ratiOns of dessicated green veg
etables for soups, &c. also dessicated pota-
toes. | remember dried apples, peaches
and other fruits were ordered In abundance
Nor was omitted increased quantities of
absolutely pure cider vinegar, while
citric acid WAS also supplied for Gistribu-
ton under the direction of the medical
officers. Citrjc acid, is the crystalized,
acdulous principle of lemon Juice. Sensi
bic people, including physicians, will
readily infer, as WAS the fact, that the men
e ace of ScorJutus was rapidly dissipated in
the nth corps under these new orders.
Before these new articles arrived, how
ever, directed my excellent and faithful
hospital steward Mr.. Thomas b. Stumph-
: well, aud only CeI remembered in Ottawa
to draw rations of dissicated mixed veg
etables as part of the hospital diet list
l also requested Col Mechanism to advise
their free use throughout the regiment,
r. and also to gather and eat of the black.
berries freely, as they should have oppor-
tunity am sure they largely promoted
the health of the regiment, and all others
5 who had access TO them.
, one day, while the condition referred 20
prevailed among the men, and | was Civ
ing very special attention to all who COM
I planned, there presented at surgeons call a
superior young man named Ballou, com.
paratively recent recruit. lie said he was
ashamed to come to- the surgeon with all
! ments so vague and indefinite, but he was
: getting 80 weak, notwithstanding an enor-
nous appetite, and eating 50 much, he had
determined to find out If possible, what
did all him. Among other symptoms WAS
p the lienteric diarrbTa-which of itself
: was determlnate-com starvation.
, Went through his case. True man; could
not spare him; but would have to If we did
not throw him life preservor before ha
should sink. lie was going down fast.
ordered Mr.. Stumph to enter him as a
hospital patient and consult his preferences
as to diet so far as our limit of articles, en-
phasizlng to Mr.. Ballou not to hesitate, but
freely advise us as to his cravings; also
that he make business of gathering and
eating the berries all that was reasonable
and prudent, using sweetened water acid
ulated with vinegar rs drink rs long as
1t tasted good. The current treatment
with potassa and providing for other med
ical indications were also observed.
Others affected In like manner were
similarly treated, with results of soon re
storing them 10 good health and to duty.
My yigilant detectives, faithful to the
trust had imposed, soon apprized me that
"BalIou and them other fellows you have
put into hospital are regular play offs
Can eat out the whole commissary stock
and look greedily over both shoulders for
more"
complimented their fidelity, but ex-
planned the facts as far as they could I'M
derstand them; melting them TO continued
and steadfast vigilance in the matter to
which they ha6 been assigned.
In about week Mr. Ballou reported to
r me his complete recovery, $50 far as he
could see and, with the surgeons permits
sion, would return to his company"
Accordingly on due examination, he was
discharged. do not remember his report
ing to me again while in the service
Once, several years after the war closed,
say about 67 or IS, being in Peru sitting a