Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.

Great Britain. Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into the Sanitary Condition of the Army.

Date:: 1858

Credit: Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the regulations affecting the sanitary condition of the army, the organization of military hospitals, and the treatment of the sick and wounded ; with evidence and appendix. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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$Carriages numbered. Carriages to follow each other closely. Drivers must not stop with- out leave. Infirmiers to be in sufficient number and ready to assist the invalids. Officier d'admini- stration to know all particulars of the road, and mea- sures he is to take. Halts. Provisions to be taken for invalids incapable to continue the jour- ney. Distribu- tions. The carriages must be numbered in succession, and each keep the same order during tlie journey. The number of each carriage is put down on the transfer report. When all this is done the officier (Tadministration gives the signal to start. Cliapter 2nd. On the Road. The cai-riages must closely follow one another, and never go abreast. They shall all go a good walking step, without ever trotting or galloping. The drivers shall never stop without asking the officier d'administrafion's leave, and he will regulate the halts so as to meet the wants of the patients, and the rest that the horses may require. lie will keep in the middle of the convoy, going frequently to the other carriages to see the state of the invalids carriages and horses. The ittjrrniiers in ])roportion to their number must be so disposed as to l)e always in readiness to give help to those that require it ; and each shall be attached to a carriage or carriages, from which he will not be permitted to absent himself for any time. It is necessary that the officier dadministration be Avell informed of all the particulars of the road, about vfllages, mountains, rivers, woods, inns, &c. to avail himself in procuring the advantages and avoid the inconveniences that they may offer. This knowledge will be of the greatest importance to regxilate the halts, which must be as few as possible, Avith due consideration to the want of rest both of patients and horses. Halts should be made in quiet solitary places in preference to populated villages, where some of the ])atients or the drivers might be tempted to go about, and indulge in drinking or other irregularity. During the halts he will inspect Avith the medical officer all the patients and carriages, to provide for their wants and arrange Avhatever might liave got out of order, and to make sure that all are present. With the consent of the medical officer some of the invalids may be permitted to walk part of the way, but they must be given in charge of some non- commissioned officer or the senior in service, and caused to precede the convoy. In going through a village they must get into the carriages or form in regular lines and platoons, that none may straggle. If during the journey any of the invalids should be so unwell as not to be able to continue it, the officier d'administration Avill make the proper arrangements Avith the medical officer, and shall apply to the mayor of the first toAvn they pass to take the patient under his charge, till he may be conveniently removed to the hospital upon which he Avas directed. If the mayor has not convenience to lodge the patient, he must be placed at some inn with one of the best infirmiers to take cai:e of him. In both cases the officier d'administration shall get a certificate from the mayor or his adjunct, testifying the determination taken and the instructions given Avith regard to the invalid left. To avoid all delay for the convoy, either the officier administration or the medical officer Avill remain to make the necessary arrangements for the patient in danger, Avhile the other Avill proceed with the convoy, of which he must take all the direction till the officer remaining behind overtakes them again. Should it be necessary to make a distribution during the journey, or to pass a night in some place betAveen the two hosjiitals, the places for stopping must be indicated by the sous-intendcmt militnire. If the Aveather is fine the distribution can be made in the open air, otherAvise it nmst be made under shelter. In case of distribution on the road all that is necessary for it must have been prepared before starting, and all relating to it must have been the subject of special instructions from the director. The portable soup-cakes, or cakes of consomme should be used in such circumstances to save time, and because they are easily conveyed. The vessels that may be borroAved in such circumstances must be used and returned very clean, and any damage done to them should be made good punctually together with the price agreed for the hire. The best means for making these distributions in the shortest time and Avith the least inconvenience for the patients, must dejiend on the contrivance and ingenuity of the officier d'administration, avIio Avill do the best under the circumstances. If the convoy stops on the road, care must be taken that sufficient room is left for other carriages to pass; if they must stop round a corner, care must be taken that carriages that have to turn the corner may not come suddenly in contact Avith any of the car- riages and thereby produce damage. The carriages, Avhen stopped, nmst never be left Avithout a guard to Avatch them. If it is foreseen that they must pass the night in some ])lace before reaching the hospital to Avhicli they are directed, everything should be prepared belbrehand. If it is by some unforeseen circumstance that they nmst stop on the road, it Avill lie Avitli the officier cVadministration to make the liest possible arrange- ments for the comfort of the invalids. Also if by some exti-aordinary circumstance tlie necessity should arise for going beyond the intended resting-place, the provisions prepared at such resting-place for distri- l)ution, nmst be taken Avith them to be distrilmted Avlien they halt. On approaching the resting-place, or the place of final destination, it Avill be useful to send an injirmier in advance to announce their arrival, that all may be found ready for receiving them. The distance betAA'cen the carriages must be neither more nor less than that of a horse. If in consequence of some accident or fatigue, some carriage must be left behind, the officer must leave it in charge of one of the most intelligent of the infirmiers, taking note of the carriage, and of each of the men Avith it. The officer that has the direction of a transfer or discharge couA'oy, must exert himself that all proceed in the best order, keeping all the men and the horses Avell provided for and in good spirits by his forQ- sight, benevolence, and good treatment. Chapter 3rd. Duties on Arrival. The injirmier that has preceded the convoy, or if he be too tired some other person, must be sent back to meet it, and lead it to the resting-place or hospital, and give the necessary information, that the officer may the better give his orders to the drivers. The carriages must be led into the court, or in default of a court, they may be left outside Avith a guard. The patients must be inmiediately got out Avith the same order as they have got in, and Avhen all out, they must be called to muster to ascertain their number Avith the director of the hospital. The carriages must afterwards be A'isited to see that all the effects have been taken doAvn and given to the patients, Avho shall be asked if they have all their effects. The articles belonging to the hospital shall be given in charge of a trustAvorthy injirmier to take them back unless they are intended to remain Avhere they are. If it is a temporary lodging, the officer must see that the patients are all conifortaldy lodged, Avith sufficient air, as also the horses and drivers, and that all have their proper nourishment and rest, to be ready to resume their journey the next morning. One half of the injirmiers shall sit up alternately to attend on the patients during the night. If it is the hospital to Avliich they are transferred, after having lodged the patients, the officer Avill obtain a receipt for the men and effects, on the report of transfer, from the director. Chapter 4th. March through an Enemy's Country. When a transfer {evacuation^, is performed in a foreign country and amongst an unfriendly population, the officier d'administration must deeply reflect and consult Avith the medical officer upon the emergency arising of leaving behind any of the patients, Avhich must be done only Avhen ' the circumstances of the liei ii 'H p q-tt i. 1 ns tl'UI e nj c )tl$