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
Licence: Public Domain Mark
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.
768/978 page 8
![of the severe cold to which it appears they will probably be exposed, I have, &c. (Signed) A. Smith, Dr. Dumbreck, Director General. &c. &c. No. 21. Dr. Smith to the Principal Medical Officer. Army Medical Department, SiK, 31st May 1854. As the wounded in the Peninsula often suffered very severely from thirst, and as the means of allay- ing it were not generally forthcoming, I have thought it now necessary, with a view to prevent such-like suffering being experienced in Turkey, to forward 100 two-quart waterproof bags, to be distributed among the persons employed in carrying the wounded from the field. These bags are intended to be sus- pended in the same manner as haversacks are. Each has a screw which answers the office of a cork, and each has also a pliable drinking cnp attached to it by means of a cord. The number sent is small, but should yon report that they prove valual)le for the purpose they arc ])ro]iosod, 1 sliall immediately take ste])s to forward a further supply. I have, &c. (Signed) A. Smith, The Principal Medical Officer, Director General. &c. &c. No. 22. Extract of a Letter from Commissnri/-General Fil- der to Sir C. Trevelt/ait, dated Constantinople, Ath June 18o4. I find that the difficulty about taking the extra articles of diet from our stores arises from the appre- hension the regiments entertain that they might be suddenly ordered to move, Avhen larger quantities than they would have the means of carrying might remain on their hands, as we can only issue in entire packages. To remove this difficulty I have offered to furnish them with transport for the conveyance of what they may have on hand, although I am not quite certain that I shall have transport enough to carry biscuit and forage corn. The regiments are now taking some of the articles ; but I could not imder- take to provide transport for the beer, that conse- quently goes off more slowly. The divisions have been expecting to be called upon suddenly to move during the last ten days. But Dr. Smith must not suppose that because the extra articles have not, for the reasons above stated, been issued from the Commissariat stores, the troops have been without the means of making a morning and evening meal. Those at Constantinople are abundantly supplied with sugar, coffee, rice, &c. from the shops at jirices, I suppose, higher than we should charge, l)ut not perhaps higher than they Avould pay in England. The division at Gallipoli is also well supiilied by means of sutlers, although at prices higher jn-obably than those paid at Constantinople. Some otiicers of experience here, indeed, seem to think that the Government would have acted wisely to have left this business in the hands of sutlers as heretofore. issued for the use of the sick or of the troops generally. If these articles have not already been issued, I beg to request your attention to them, as they will, no doubt, prove more conducive to health than many of the vegetables which are grown in Turkey. Should you have reason to consider them likely to be useful, and that large supplies will probably be required, I shall be glad to hear from you with the least possible delay, in order that Avhat may be considered necessary may be provided with all possible despatch. I am also most desirous to be informed what has occurred in reference to the ale and porter which liave been sent out. You will be pleased to report in what condition these articles arrived, how they were relished, what quantities have been consumed, and whether there is any reason to consider it desirable that they should be regularly supplied, with a view to their being used by the sick and the troops generally. I have, &c. (Signed) A. Smith, The Principal Medical Officer, Director General. &c, &c. No, 24. Dr. Smith to the Military Secrctartj. Armv Medical Department, SiK, ' 12th June 18.34. With reference to my letter of the 21st February last, recommending that three of the staff surgeons, first class, ordered for service in Turkey, should pro- ceed overland, to enable them to ascertain and fur- nish me Avith information relative to the diseases, &c. of the country, I have the honour to state, for the information of the General Commanding-in-Chief, that I have now received Dr. Dumbreck's report on the topography, diseases, &c. of Servia and Bulgaria. It is stated in the report that the water in certain localities is bad, and I am, therefore, of opinion a few filtering machines should be supplied to keep in hospital, to be used only under special circumstances; I say used only under special circumstances, because I know from experience that every description of apparatus of the kind soon becomes comparatively inefficient if constantly employed. The advantages which Avill be experienced in special cases will, I have reason to believe, bo con- siderable, and I therefore beg to express a hope that I may be permitted to select twenty of the machines I think most likely to answer the object in view, and have them packed and forwarded to Turkey, along with a supplementary supply of surgical materials, &c., Avhich is about being forwarded to the Tower for embarkation. I expect the cost of the number proposed will not exceed 18/. or 20/., and I beg to enclose a requisition for these articles. I have, &c. (Signed) A. Smith, The Militai-y Secretary, Director General. &c. &c. Letter from the Secretary of Board of Ordnance to Dr. Smith, dated .13th June 1854 and numbered i^, conveying the Board's command that twenty filtering machines be selected and price stated. No. 23, Dr. Smith to the Principal Medical Officer. Army Medical Department, Sir, ' 8th June 1854. I HAVE the honour to request you will immedi- ately inform me if the preserved potatoes which have been forwarded to Turkey by two different firms have arrived, and if any portion of them has yet been No. 25, Dr. Smith to the Military Secretary. Army Medical Department, SiR^ 13th June 1854. I HAVE the honour to transmit the enclosed extract from a Report on the Medical Topography and Diseases of the Turco-Danubian Provinces of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21365210_0768.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
