The Sanitary Commission of the United States Army : a succinct narrative of its works and purposes.
- Date:
- 1864
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The Sanitary Commission of the United States Army : a succinct narrative of its works and purposes. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![Thougli tlie brief sTcetches that have here been presented are designed particularly to illustrate the plan by which the Commission's Depart- ment of Belief is sustained, the record of the works of any one of the prin- cipal branches that have been mentioned present something more. They illustrate the affections, thoughtfulness, patriotism, and undenying sym- pathies of the mothers, wives, and daughters of the Republic. By these things are our homes sanctified in the war that is raging, and by these the battle-worn veteran finds his home made doubly endearing. The prevention of sickness, and of all causes of unnecessary suflfering, has been from the first the chief design of the Sanitary Commission's efforts but the requisite means for succor and aid to the sick and wounded have flown in so. abundantly and so systematically from the branches and AuxiHaries of Supply, that the Commission has been enabled to carry out plans of Relief which otherwise would have been impossible. The whole system of this co-operative yet spontaneous aid is so simple that school girls readily comprehend it when they form their busy-bee circles. Is it not a work in which the hand of Providence marks the way of duty ?* 335 96. Its expenses for distribution are estimated in the last i^fpori at per cent, wliich corresponds with the estimates of the U. S. San. Com, [See p. 167.] This humane hibor of the St. Lnuis Commission has truly been loyal work, and, as has recently been said by a prominent leader in that work, as things now stand, we can see no reason why the two commissions should not harmonize into one. The work of the St. Louis Commission is spontaneous and fervent, and its advantages to the army and to the world may be increased by the unity that has now become practicable and highly desirable. * The cause of humanity needs no defence, yet its claims are not well under- stood by those persons who fail to see and commend the object and necessity of voluntary assistance and even of woman's aid in the care of the sick and wounded in the war. Let the simple eloquence of the following statements defend such work. At the opening of the Sanitary Fair in Washington, Pkesidext Lincoln, in a brief speech, said: The extraordinary war in which wc are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance, the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then, is due the soldier. In this extraordinary war, extraordinary developments have manifested them- selves, such as have not been seen in former wars, and among these manifestations nothing has been more remarkable than these Fairs, for the relief of suffering eoldiei s and their families. And the chief agents in these Fairs are the women of America. I am not accustomed to the use of langunge of eulogy ; I have never studied the art of paying compliments to women ; but I must say that if all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the world in praise of women, were applied to the women of America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during this war. I will close by saying, God bless the women of America 1](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21973593_0292.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
