Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-21

Fiftey years ago today, while the
north was preparing industriously Tor
great war, 1t was preparing also TO
meet, as an inevitable consequence or
that war, the problem Of the sick ano
wounded. AS was most fitting, women
took an important part in this work.
For years past the country had main
tanned an army of but from 10000 to
%, 900 men, and except in the Mexican
war there had at no time been any need
to consider how to care for forces larg-
er than few regiments quartered al
widely distant posts.
Now. however, it was a question not
OF regiments but of brigades and divis-'
ions soon, perhaps, of army corps ard
of a war that might last for years. To
meet this new situation required COM
plete readjustment of the medical de-
partment and the organization of new
forces that should look after the men
in health and in sickness
The government authorities had no
lack of material for instruction. The
last few years had seen great wars in
the Crimea, in India and in Italy and
these had taught in a way not to be
forgotten the meaning of sanitation, of
efficient nursing, of care of the men IN
the field.
Heretofore, however. the lesson had
been learned after or during the war;
now it was proposed to prepare for the
war in advance.
SICKNESS ALREADY BEu4.>.SING.
For the purpose Of such preparation
there was a great advantage in the
time that elapsed since the evacuation
of Sumter and the presidents call for
troops.
There was as yet no woundeL. but
there were beginning TO be the sick.
the natural consequence of the manner
in which thousands of nen-some not
physically sound, others mere boys, too
young for action soldiering-had been
hurried to washington for the capitaro
defense.
Unframed militia, these men had
borne the hardsnfps OF veterans. Many
Of them had joined TIER regiments with
insufficient clothing; few had had
enough and proper food. They had
marched in the sun. they had bivouack-
ed in the rain and mud. they had been
herded in railroad cars and STEAMBOATS,
At Washington they had been quar-
tered where there was room for them,
and fed as best was possible They had
not learned yet how to look after them
selves. anu there was no one else to look
after them. The result had been the
outbreak of disease, beginning among
the weakest and least fit.
Already, therefore, the surgeon gen.
eral and the medical bureau could see
the work that lay before them. and were
preparing for it, opening new hospi-
tails. engaging nurses. planning in va
rious ways for the increase of the med
ical and surgical staffs.
More important than the official prep
arations, however, was the no1licial,
represented by the work of Dorothea
Lynde Dix. and the creation Of the san
itary commission.
MISS DIX STARTS WORK.
Miss Dix. in 1851, was so years old and
far from strong, her constitution Slapped
with malaria, overwork and pulmonary
weakness" She had made herself known
the country over by her 20 years of effort
in behalf of the insane. She was used tc
performing big tasks single-handed, to
bringing about organization and discipline
When the news came that the first vol
unteers were on their way to the capital,
Miss Dix was with friends at Trenton,
n. J., resting after an arduous tour OF
the west. Feeling that her post of duty
was also in Washington, she hurried to
Baltimore. April 10. where she arrived
only three hours after the fight between
the soldiers and the populace.