The Sanitary Commission of the United States Army : a succinct narrative of its works and purposes.

Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Sanitary Commission of the United States Army : a succinct narrative of its works and purposes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tary Interests of the United States Forces/'and acting in co-operation with the Bureau, in elaborating and applying such facts as might be elicited from the experience and more ex- tended observation of those connected with armies, with refer, ence to the diet and hygiene of troops, and the organization of Military Hospitals, etc. “ This Commission is not intended to interfere with, but to strengthen the present organization, introducing and elaborating such improvements as the advanced stage of Medical Science might suggest.” Thus early in the war, did the acting Chief of the Medical Bureau, Dr. K. C. Wood, officially and generously open the way for the beginning of a great and humane work. Acting in concert with the Medical Bureau, a joint committee of delegates from a number of the earlier voluntary aid asso- ciations visited the National Capital soon after our forces had begun to gather there, and, a few days previously to the letter above cited from the Surgeon-General, [May 18th,] that committee addressed the Secretary of War upon the subject of special measures for the sanitary protection of the rapidly gathering volunteer army, and also in reference to the utiliza- tion of voluntary contributions from the people, for the soldiers’ welfare. In their preliminary address to the Secretary of War, subsequently published, that committee said: “ The present is essentially a people’s war. The hearts and minds, the bodies and souls, of the whole people, and of both sexes, throughout the loyal States, are in it. -sf * * “ Convinced by inquiries made here of the practical difficulty of reconciling the aims of their own and numerous similar asso- ciations in other cities with the regular workings of the Com- missariat and the Medical Bureau, and yet fully persuaded of the importance to the country, and the success of the war, of bringing such an arrangement about, the undersigned respect- fully ask that a mixed Commission of civilians, distinguished for their philanthropic experience and acquaintance with sanitary matters, of medical men, and of military officers, be appointed by the Government, who shall be charged with the duty of in- vestigating the best means of methodising and reducing to