The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-17

needs of the hospital department,
Twenty-first Kansas, by Mrs. P: B.
Plumb of Emporia, DR.. T. c. Biddle,
assistant surgeon, says:
Camp Thomas,
Chickamauga, Ca,
June 10, 1898.
Mrs. P. B. Plumb, Emporia, Kansas.
Dear Madam am in receipt of
your favor relative to our needs in the
hospital department. Our equipment
to date has been as imperfect as could
will be imagined and but for the kindly
assistance we have received at the
hands of some of the good people of
Chattanooga, our wants would have
reached a degree of actual suffering.
These people have furnished a half
dozen cots, a few sheets, nightgowns,
etc, that have enabled US to make some
of our worst causes decidedly more
comfortable. We came here with no
equipment what ever, and to date we
have been supplied with very little out
side of the source above noted. A sys-
tenn of division hospitals is being or
ganized and one for this division. The
third division of the third corps is re-
ceiving it's first patients today. We
expect to send four or five of our worst
patients to that hospital this afternoon.
l think this hospital system will relieve
US materially as long as we are camped
here. 1t is Objectionable however from
the fact that it does not provide ade-
Quate hospital equipments for the in
dividuaI regiments; consequently, when
are ordered to the front, it is pos
W .
practically no hospital equipments.
1t seems that it is important that we
be provided with a hospital fund so
that we can be prepared to take care
of ourselves when the advance is made
A great many of the regiments are
splendidly prepared in this way. Their
hospital funds have been accumulated
chiefly from the profits of the regimen
tai canteenS. These canteenS have pro-
duced a profit of from one to three hum
dred dollars per day from the sale of
hon XTal hoy
decided that the Twenty first Kansas
conforming with the traditions of our
state established only a prohibition
canteen. The articles that are sold in
this canteen are sold at almost cost
price so that as consequence the pro-
fits are nominal We have received
some very complimentary letters from
our temperance friends in Kansas and
elsewhere but these letters have, APP
parently. been of no substantial benefit
to our suffering sick. The Twelfth New
York with whom we are brigaded have
established a hospital fund that now
amounts to seven thousand dollars as
a result of their canteen and from di-
rect contributions from their home
state. Other regiments have been equal
1y as well provided for.
Regarding our wants I would state
that such articles as ice, fresh milk.
lemons, etc, are the greatest comforts
and benefits we can furnish our sick.
Such articles IS these of course can be
obtained only by direct purchase and
it requires the cash. Among other
things that we will greatly need, and
need now, are more cots, sheets, pill
lows, pillow slips, nightshirts, under
clothing, towels. soap, prepared foods,
matted beef extract. Horlick's food. etc.
We have had the greatest difficulty
in procuring even a limited supply of
medicine, but I feel confident that we
will be better supplied with medicines
at once. There are two remedies. how
ever, that it is not at all probable will
be furnished US, that 1 think will be Of
great benefit to our men, wish we
had five or ten thousand tablets of
pepsin, pancreatin. They would be of
great benefit in the treatment of the
numerous cases of impaired digestion.
also would very much like supply OF
tonic preparation composed of Strych-
nine arsenic and ipecac that my broth
er and L used in -our practice
1 hope this letter will be a satisfac-