The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14


BRINToN. Major and Surgeon, U. S. ".
1S61-65. in his Personal Memoirs
(Neale). DR.. Brinton. who died in
1907, set down his war record in the
1s90s; its wisely deferred publication
launches it into a world able to Judge
its statements with complete objec-
tivity and freedom from bias.
The great work OF caring for the
health OF the armies in the field was
carried on by the nuclear regular
army stan, the volunteer army organ
ization and the civilian Sanitary
Commission. The first named. the
existing and natural agency OF ad-
ministration. was Inadequate because
an army surgeon is subject to the
provision OF the physical law that n
body cannot be in two places at one
time but the correlated law that
two bodies cannot occupy the same
space simultaneously caused conflict
with the auxiliary corps, and both
the regulars and the volunteers re-
scented the Intrusion" OF the civilian
doctors and nurses. But there was
work for all and adjustment was au-
tomato, though never quite complete.
volunteer when medico-c hirurglcal
recruits were called for. He was
made brigade surgeon. and was
prominent in the work Of organiza-
ton. After a term OF sufficiently ardu-
Gus service in the West with Grant
he was called to Washington to estab-
lish a military surgical museum: was
then for some time with the armies
al the South and finally. getting in
VOWED in the departmental politics in
Washington. was "eXilcd" by the au-
tocratic Stanton to the West again
He was skilled in his profession, an
able executive and not without ster-
ling military qualities. His record Ia
onesided but complete case" for
the side it deals with.
In October. 1861. DR. Brinton was
made Medical Director Of the south
eastern Missouri district. taking the
place of Surgeon James Smons, T.
$. a. The men. fresh levies had 10
Dc cared for like children. They even
had Children's diseases such as
measles. Fcvers were prevalent. The
men were peculiarly helpless Farm
ers, workers, men accustomed 10
initiative and responsibility in ordi-
nary life seemed. says the doctor.
on volunteering and taking up camp
life to lose "individullism" to neglect
the HYGIENE precautions dictated by
common sense. and to rely on mill
tary authority for every decision. The
commissary and quartermaster staffs
had everything to learn Tho reCi-
mental medical officers had a COM
paratively simple and easy task: the
size Of their practice was increased.
but the principle was unchanged But
the brigade surgeon had to master the
mysteries OF organization and man
agement. a military superstructure
on the base of his civilian profess
sional experien 70: ut was his prov
ince to see TO the health OF every
man I'm the command. to provide so
that n bed should he ready for every
sick or wounded soldier whenever and
wherever it might nc called for; 10
see that medicines and medical sup
plies should be on hand at every
depot or with every column. and to
anticipate all future demands by
bringing supplies from the central
stores" And he had command of "A
I
the beginning OF the war was super
latively heterogeneous and III at ease
in its new setting.
At the outset there was marked
! and distressing scarcity Of competent
medical men. Subordinate positions
in the depot hospitals were held by
contract doctors" in the common
phrase, acting assistant surgeons In
he Surgeon Generals catalogue.
fhcy held no military commissions.
Charlatans and impustOrs got APP
po,ntments. and the man in the ranks
paid for the experience they acquired.
These conditions were peculiarly prey
alent in the West
. one Of the Illinois regiments had a
surgeon whose zeal ran far ahead oi
1 his skill. He had an amputation tO
perform, the first in his experience,
and begged Or. Rrinton To- do ii for
him, or course that. was impossible,
but the brigade surgeon coached him
and put him through the motions
| The amateur nerved to his test. oper-
ated successfully, ana acquired both
coniiden,c and reputation. In the
battle before Donelson. few months
later, DR.. Erinton heard Of "a great
surgeon busy in ono of the field hos
! pitfalls, rode over. and found the opera =
tor performing prodlgies with knife
and saw, The stairs were blood
stained, and in the surgeons room on
the second story amputated arms and
legs Uttered the floor, "the surround
ings were CHASTITY beyond all limits OF
surgical proprlety." Tho once doubt
full doctor was supremacy happy; his
work, in spite Of It's grewsomc cX-
uherance. was well done, and he he
came recognized surgical authority
among his confrercs"
III the men were bad" say. d.
Brinton in describing the medical per.
sonnet Of the Western department
the women were worse" Patriotic
women from the North besieged the
Secretary of War at Washington. com.
handing officers in tho field and the
authorities at military posts. PASSED
on by the adjutants. they came finally
to the medical directors Trained
nurses would have been welcome, but
these women We're unskllcd, incXpe,
ricnced and more bother than they
were worth in practical service. al
they wanted" was simply a roon
and looking glass" when room,
were crowded and a copious overflow
III provided for and mirrors scarce a
hens teeth. But fourteen or ffteer
sisters came 10 Mound City anC