The National tribune., 1890-01-09
THE GRAND ARMY.
News From The DepartmentS---New
Posts. etc.
HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN.
OFFICE OF THE SURGEoN-GENERAI. GAR,
TOPEKA, KAN, Dec. p, 1889.
CIRCULAR LETTER No. /.

OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL. GAR,
TOPEKA KAN, Dec p, 1859.
CIRCULAR LETTER no. /.
TO Medical Directors aud Post Surgeons.
COMRADES: We shall depart from the usual GUS
tom Of reminding you of your obligations to desi-
tute sick comrades or their dependent ones who
may come or send 20 you for aid. We believe mat
you VIII attend to that duty in obedience TO the
demands Of professional instinct arising from a
source that Is beyond the reach OF Circular Letter
and from depth which the pumb-ne OF General
Order has never measured.
Your mission M medical officers Of the G-Ak-, rs
understood at this Office Is 60 utilize TO the uttermost
your knowledge aud skill in the defense OF The
rights Of your comrades living and OF the depend
ents Of those who are dead.
Nou should endeayor TO famarize yourselves
with the pathological residua Of war The causes
that have diminished by at least a score Of years
the Iiie-prospeci OF a half million more Of men
should receive your earnest attention and best
thoughts. The silence of yourselves Ia this matter
aud that Of your professional brethren who are
beyond the pale Of order, j. the most remark
able thing in the history OF medicine.
What kills an cx-sodcr Is often an important
question. Many OF them die suddenly and unex-
pcciedly OF what appears in mortuary reports rs
pneumonia acute euieri,is, and. consequence,
their widows and orphan children are dehaued
from receiving pension. whereas the determining or
overbalancng factor in the causa,ion of death may
have been impaired vital resistance which was the
consequence OF peusioMabie alimeni; and another
important thing should bc considered in THIS con
nection- permanent uuhinginE Of the hcatregu-
lating mechanism OF the soldiers body (which Is
not in any sense pathological pun may have
been the great factor in Tie cause Of tie disease
which is credited with the causation OF death. We
insert the following pertaining 10 the important
subject Of death certificates:
The laws which pension the widow and orphan
iron-clad, aud Commissioner OF Pensions
make the muoh-needed ruling that will pen
sion all regardless Of the OF The husband and
fathers death.
Consequently, whenever n war disability dis
qualities an honorably discharged ex Union soldier
for withslanding inroads Of al acute disease, or
disables him for OF prevents him from avoiding
fatal accident or incapaciiaies him for withstand
ing the shock Of necessary surgical procedure,
whenever under any circumstances war disa-
bility becomes The overbalancing or determining
factor in the causation OF his death, the dsa-
bility should be credited with the killing, and it
should he 70 stated in the death certificate
The enactment Of a supplementary clause or
clauses 10 our present pension laws that will pro-
vide a pension Tor the widows and orphan children
Of our comrades regardless OF the lime, place or
OF the husband aud fathers death, aud which
will make it possible 10 successfully prosecute
claims Tor nervous disability q. e., neurolinesis
and resulting neurairophy) premature aging OF
Ell the organs Of the soldiers body, diminished
vital resistance when ia contact with deerioratiag
influences, aud above all other things, Tor The
heart disease which Is now so aarmiuEy preya-
lent among the surviving soldiers Of the iaic
To do tis il viii be necessary Tor the law making
power 20 remember that these disabilities are a
rule the outcome Of The totally Of haTdsllips en-
dured by their victims while IN the service Of the
United States and in the line q duty aud that the
date Of their origin in majority OF cases be
defaiely fixed Except by alleging that they began
when The young soldier LEFT a comfortable home
and entered the unhygienie environment Of warl
and consequently What is known la pension Office
pariance a. continuous disability" cannot in
many Of these cases be proved by methods now in
vogue
The recommendations % my predecessor in Office
were adopted by The last National Encampmeut
and a compliance theTcwib made obligatory upon
AZ. ] insert them here that you may familiafize
yourseiv.s with their requirements. They as
follows:
would therefore most respectfully recommend
that hereafter reports be required from Post
Surgeons relative 70 recruits mustered iDto the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and that the blank
noH shown on each application FOR such Surgeons
j would also recommend
J. That Pest Surgeons be required 10 file with the
Adjuiani q Sic Post a death certificate, showing
the specific cause Of death ia each instance Of a
deceased comrade.
= That Ties also be required 10 make a report 10
Size Medical Director Of the Department at the end
q each quarter, showing whole number q deaths
during term, number who presumably died from
wounds received la the service, number who pre-
sumabiy cied from disease contracted IN tic serr
ice. number who presumably died from other
CAUSE
would also recommend tie charitable work OF
the physician. showing the number Of ex-solders
Eaorn marines treated free 81 charge the rea-
HoHHb.s money value 81 such services number OF
patients treated free 81 charge who were members
OF families q ez-so!dieTs sailors marines; the
reasonable money value % such service. money
Falae n medicines and surgical appliances fur
ni-hed Tor above By physician Or by Pos. or Relief
C0rps' Or BY other organizations
am, sincerely you're, Ia r.. g. aud L.
HoEAcE r. POTTER 81. D.. Surgeon q General.
Preparations for the National Encampmrnf.
BOsTos, MAS. Jan. 6, 1892
The Executive Committee having IN charge the
arrangements for Tie reception aud entertainment
81 those attending tie National Encanprncut held
meeting Oh last "Wednesday afternoon large
number ~ members were present. 4 letter wac
received from Past Commander { hief Paul Van
Der Wort offering biz services ia any capacity A
communication was alec received from Milwaukee
VIE stating iat there is great enthusiasm To- that
cay over DE EncaIDpHient aud promising large
Delegation Of visitors from that section.