The National tribune., 1900-08-02

pulling out of his bosom his precious pack
ct and laying it on stump under a lot
of leaves, while he undressed. IF they'd
a knowed as much as we did about what
IS in these clothes they wouldn't we let
us inside the lines with them on"
That's So" echoed 81, also pulling out
his little package of mementoes from An
mabel and laying it on another stump, pre-
paratory to removing his clothes. Il be-
lieve I've graybacks enough myself to fit
out the whole of Sherman's army"
Now" said the Surgeon to one of the
attendants. did you sharpen your scis-
sors, as I told you?'
Yes. sir"
well, go over each of their heads and
faces first with your shears and then
with your scissors, and cut every bit of
hair as close as you can get to the skin
Not bad idee, neither" commented
81. Il begin to think that he was look
ing as much after the other boys as us.
when he wouldn't let US be turned loose
i'll camp"
"Now," ordered the Surgeon, when the
depilation of 81 and Shorty was finished.
to another man, who stood by with
sponges, soap, towels and brushes, put
those men in those tubs, and give them
Il good scrubbing all over. Make the wa
ter as hot as they can stand, and scrub
them as you would kitchen floor. Don't
mind what they may say. Get every bit
of that terrible prison dirt out of their
SKINS
Hold on. Doctor" shouted 81, indig-
nantly. I'VE kin wash ourselves. We
amt so far gone as that. We don't need
nobody to wash u.s. We amt that kind.
You just give us the soap and towels, and
we'll wash all right"
do as l order you," sternly command
ed the Surgeon to the hospital attendants
And don't waste any time about it"
The Surgeon, for all his I,ildness, could
be as emphatic and firm abo2t the hospi-
tai as the Colonel on the field.
Jeff Walsh, you shirking hospital rat"
said Shorty, 'if you come near me with
them things I'll knock your head off"
Come! Gomez expostulated the Sur,
geon, that's not the way for commits
stoned officers to act, and especially before
their men."
DO you think that's the right way to
treat On-commissioned Officers:" shout
ed 81. ''to publicly wash them before their
men,
Il am not washing you; 1 am treating
you," answered the Surgeon. Its par
of my treatment. The skin is highly
important and very delicate organ. 1t re.
quires treatment just like any other Or
gan. Your skins have gotten into highly
dangerous condition. owing to your lying
dersonville, and require special treatment.
Now, that is more explanation than I'm
in the habit of giving my patients, espe
cially enlisted men. | shall not add an.
other word. I'm doing this because /
think it is necessary, which is sufficient
reason for you. You get in those tubs
without another word, and take your
scrubbng, or l shall use force to have my
orders obeyed. But if it will make You
feel any better, I'll say that it is not Il
washing, but a medicated bath I'm Civ
ing you. That's not plain water, but u
solution of chloride of mercury. iodine and
some other chemicals of an antiseptie and
germ destroying nature
"A medicated bath,' gasped 81, new
light striking him. on account of the Sur
geon's large words. That's all right
Yes; and in order to make sure that
it is applied properly | have it done under
my own eyes, and by my own assistants
Without another word ST and Shorty
got into the tubs and submitted to the
vigorous detersion.
Here, Jeff Walsh, don't you put no
more hot water in," yelled Shorty at his
attendant, whom he suspected of taking
advantage of this opportunity TO even up
some old scores. Don't you think you're
at your old business of Scalding hogs.
Don't rub so hard, you awkward brute.
Leave some of that skin on. L need it in
"
pie to grow n fresh coat to. There. yon
beast. you've filed my eyes and mouth
with soap suds. I'll lick you the first
time catch you outside o camp
After the scrubbing had been done to
the Surgeons satisfaction and they had
been rinsed by buckets of fresh water
and dried by vigorous toweling. they wer,.
each handed Il pair of drawers, socks.
slippers and pantaloons and clean shirt.
They took their seats on log to drink
some chicken broth which was given
them and watch the rest going through
the ordeal.
Il tell you, 81, that medicated bath was
a grand thing, after ALL" said Shorty. Il
feel like four-year-old in the Spring
Old FOlsOm's the boss Surgeon of this |
army, much fun as some of the boys make |
Of him. But from the way that medicat-
ed bath smelt and tasted, l thought at |
times it was nothing but plain. old-fash-
ioned hot water and soap"
Il have the same suspicion" said 81.
But it seems to make me hungrier n |
ever. l wonder when in the world the |
Surgeons going to give us something to !
eat that'll stick to the ribs. Seems to me |
that a barrel of this Cruel wouldn't fill UP !
one hole in my inside"
Its mighty good broth. all the same, |
though it has queer taste. Mebbe the |
chicken had been eating something bit |
ter"