The National tribune., 1895-11-21
MISSOURI.
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
An Original Army Medical Topic for Cen


eral Consideration.
Question: Did the service of the soldiers
during the war of the rebellion have tend
ency TO shorten their lives?
The discussion OF the above question is now
opened ia the columns of THE NATIONAL
! TRIBUNE 10y the pu LEGATION of the report of
| Surg Gen. O. W. Weeks, of Marion. o.. which
| suggest ed the question. This report Was sub
muted bv him at the 29th National Encamp-
ment of the Grand Army Of the Republic, held
at Louisville, Ky. September, 1895.
Olher papers on the subject will appear each
week-one or more according to length and
space afforded in this paper. 1t is recon-
mended that papers be as brief rs their nature
! will admit.
The attention of the med ical profession in all
stations. private and publie, is called to the
question stated, desiring their written opin-
long for publication.
PAPER No. 1.
Extracts from Surg Cen O. W. ITeeLss Report.
The life Of the Union soldier or sailor has
been shortened from six to IA yeats more by
| his service during the war of the rebellion,
basing the comparison on the expectancy of
! human life. wish the report of the Commits
4 sioner of Pensions for the year ISIS. In
month of that ycar-from May 9 to June IL
the is Pension Agencies reported aggregate
death o. $50 pensioners. The average death
age of the pens oners OF the war o. 1916
/
! 81 years; az the dependen mothers. 75 years;
! of the dependent fathers. 80 years; pensioners
Of previous wars. 81 years. The reports from
! the Medical Directors show mortality during
| the term ended Dec. 81, 1894. of over 81 per
cent. OF service origin, aud during the term
ended June 80. 1885, a mortality OF over 90
/ per cent. of service origin, from diseases
wounds, and IL Is not unreasonable that life in
the ether reported has been shortened by
the service.
In reply to an inquiry addressed to the Hon.
| orable Commissioner OF Pensions. under date of
| July 3. 1885. in regard to the present number
/ of pensioners of the war OF the rebellion
! the roll ana the number dropped by death dur
| ing the year, ana for other statistical lufOTma-
! ton, was advised that il could not be given
until after il was coilated for the annual re-
/ port OF the tseal year: that after Its publlca-
! ton a copy would be transmitted 10 me- which
would be too late for my purpose IN this re-
port The report of the Secretary Of the In
/ terror for the year ended June 80 1894 shows
! that of the army and navy 362,215 pensioners
were on the rolls under the general law during
/ that year. and S.22S died that OF the army
aud navy on the rolls under the law of June
81 $780, there were 357, 525, and 932l died
! during the year, which shows a larger per-
! ceutage of deaths under the law of juno %,
1890, than under the general law, and conveys
I the impression that their disabilities were
| largely due 10 Service origin, yet they were
unable 10 establish the proof emitting them 10
/ pensions under the general law"
Reports from the National and State Homes
| for disabled volunteer soldiers and sailors show
/ that in general they are well aud econ Ironically
managed that no epidemic has pervaded them,
and that the members receiving tender care
/ ip their advancing years. The average num-
! Der of members present and absent in the Ma
J tional Home, including the seven branches,
during the year ended June 80, 1894, was 49,
/ 235. an increase of 707 over 1888; the whole
! number cared for was 23.6l5. an increase of
/ 155 over 1893 The numbe of deaths during
tie year was $50: number of pensioners, l5.-
III; pensions received, s., 000. 3a2. rs; amount
sent 10 families through the Home. S409. 23l. l8,
al increase over 1893 OF Sl26 co.. o.. The aver
age number present and absent in the q State
/ Homes, 1929; the whole number cared for,
/ il ,9s9; the average number present and absent
! in both National and State Homes, %, l67; the
average number cared for during the year 1894
/ in National and State Homes. 1864 an in
crease Of 1921 over 1893 The whole number
! cared for ia the National Homes from date of
/ organ ization TO June 30. 1894, was 7367l; of
/ which 1,267 were transferred 10 the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane; l2,7SS died;
! 1929 dropped from the rolls, aud 26,6G3 dis
Charged.
The following is a summary Of the disabili-
! ties of the 23.6l5 cared for at the National
/ Homes for the year ended June 30. l69s