Remarks on army surgeons and their works / by Charles Alexander Gordon.

  • Gordon, C. A. (Charles Alexander), Sir, 1821-1899.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on army surgeons and their works / by Charles Alexander Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    commanding officers and surgeons tlic! impoi-tance of frequently examining the soldiers’ provisions ()>. 45). He would diminish the allowance of the salted ration, and allow the men to be liberally supplied with tea, cocoa, coffee, or chocolate (p. 72) •; and recommended that men should have a good breakfast before proceeding on duty (]). 7 5). Some oif his remarks on the administration of spirits in cases of disease, and on the employment medicinally of jelly, desen'^ here to be noted. Alluding to the circumstance that rum, when mixed with mucilage of gum arable, could be taken in large quantities without iirjuiy, he goes on to observe, that “It is perhaps owing to the same reasons tliat mixing ardent spirits with milk deprives them in a great measure of their noxious power. In this form I have exhibited them in many cases with temporary benefit, and often with permanent advantage. This,” he adds, “ has happened chiefiy in cases where it was neces.sary to suppoi-t the strength of the system, not by the use of tonics, “ but by throwing in a quantity of nutritive matter (milk or animal jelly), which would have been rejected by the stomach unless accompanied by a moderate stimulus ” (p. 26). Let me recommend the passage to the attention of some who even yet faintly comprehend the necessity for administering such articles of hospital “ extras” as jelly in certain cases. He guards also against the too free administration of spuits or wine, when or- dered medicinally, especially in typhus fever, the fashion of his day having evidently been to stimulate too indiscriminately (p. 30). Perhaps so it has in more recent times. Dr. Bell protested against the system of recruiting then in force for the newly-raised regiments. “ Every art,” he observed, “ is employed by the lowest and most despicable wretches to entrap the intoxicated, the ignorant, and those who, fi’om some siUy cause of discontent, have deserted a business to which they embrace the very first opportunity of returning ” (p. 94). Ano- ther point against which he raised his voice was the system then in force, by which men professing to be Eoman Catholics were not admissible as soldiers. The result was, that many persons who by circumstances were forced to enlist had to falsify theii' oaths in doing so (p. 175), This circumstance is alluded to in this place chiefly to indicate the care with which this able sur- geon considered every matter that was. calculated, directly or indirectly, to affect the Qonditioy. of the soldiers with whom he was associated. _ The monotony of a soldier’s life naturally attracted his atten- tion, as did also the, numerous evils arising from this cause. We cannot. too sH’ongly inculcate the necessity for employ- ment, either of body or mind,, especially for newly-i'aised troops, as a powerful means of preserving health, provided that bodily