The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-04

he had died from some other disease.
regret cannot recall his name; for he be
. came u good aud valuable soldier,
|, We all, daily and everywhere, need in
struction for our improvement and guild
ance. Different situations require differ
ent methods This case, related In 81
much detail well illustrates peculiar
form of class of subjects we had TO en-
counter, which much taxed our penetration
powers of diagnosis, and our resources OF
treatment. In some nationalities, and up
to not very long ago In Great Britain, in
army, navy, and merchant marine, "sham
ming sickness" has been met with severe
punt shment, and other treatment most
brutal. But, In the war Of the rebellion,
the bulk of the army was composed Of cit
liens Of all ranks and conditions, engaged
ina common cause--that cause the pre-
servatlon of our national integrify-and all
had 10 be treated equally and fairly, as
men and citizens, each according 10 the
nature Of the case and the circumstances; ;
and justly, as far as possible, as If under
civil law. The shammers were guilty of
great wrong which they did not consider,
nor appreciate; in that ii tended to render
medical officers disrusful, and injustice
would thus be done to some very worthy
men, seriou ly needing attention; not 10
mention again the overtaxlng of comrades
continuing able for duty But we had TO
deal with these delinquepts as with young
er members of the family and exercise
discretion and fOrbearance with many as
If children under our guardianship--a
with groom mp children, with whom due
discipline and education had been neg
lected. Where has this not been neglected
The cases are rare and exceptional where
any family, whatever their circumstances,
have been, what is called, drought up"
They "come up" hit or miss; and they
clearly exhibit the fact all through their
lives-in all grades of society. "The boy
is the father of the man"
If were to write book. could hardly
fully relate all the interesting cases of
feigned diseases l met with. Will but
refer to one or two more briefly.
Living rs we did, like unto the manner
of "the beasts which perish" catarrhal dis
eases in multiplied forms, and others hav'
ing origin remotely in the same cause,
probably exceeded all others. Deafness
was very common. A few feigners took
cue from this fact, and adopted thst
dodge" as it was called. One chap, and
he was otherwise so uudstinguished that
his very name is unimpressed on my mem.
Dry, became stone deaf, | think the first
year we were out. Otherwise we'll, not
thought advisable to discharge him, though
he much desired 1t, Unfit for duty, we
made him useful about hospital and head
quarters. All suspected him "play off "
Traps were laid. Long his feet evaded
them. But 10, In sleep, our better angel is
the truer and the trustful watcher. Thus
was his evil genius tracked to cover. A
comrade coming to suspect his trick, set
himself to test him. And he had an art of |
whispering and talking low in a sleepers
ear, and leading him on to answer audibly, |
which, at length, the feigner did and that
betrayed him. He also, at length, still
more disturbed him, partially to awaken
ing him; causing him to call oUt loudly, in |
vexation, in the hearing of many comrades |
himself awakening while his voice was SON |
orously vibrating. Thus the farce was
ended
had another interesting case of feign-
ing as difficult of management as Drews,
which eliminated at Allatoona Mountain |
in "a. More difficult, as the man was of |
more intelligence. 1t were interesting to
relate the history, but the subject is we'll
complete. Only further remark:
Survivors of our armies would incline to
ask, why not discharge such men and mus
ter out such officers as were tainted with
that malady? That would have been sur
render; and encouraged indictments re.
naming. 1t was false policy, too, to dis
miss officers or men not insane, for other
than physical disability, proven and con-
firmed. Our methods for raising the
efficiency of the service were in part dis
ciplinary and correctional Some excep-
tons: Where the disatfected were incor-
rigible, their example and Influences were
prejudicial to the good of the service;
those of us who had these matters in pur.
view determined that, mentally and NOR
ally, as we'll as physically, they were of
more detriment than benefit, and in all
respects we were better rid of them.
We had, all the way along, fortunately,
several very sensible, learned, practical
gentlemen as medical directors at general
headquarters, who gladly and freely con-
suited with the regimental surgeons on all
these practical points of administration,
and the constant good understanding much
promoted the efficiency and welfare of the
service. We mutually decided in several