按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
preparation of large quantities of soup made from the cow and calves'
heads with the brains and tongues； to which a liberal supply of sweet
potatos and vegetables might have been advantageously added。 The
material existed in abundance for the preparation of such soup in large
quantities with but little additional expense。 Such aliment would have
been not only highly nutritious； but it would also have acted as an
efficient remedial agent for the removal of the scorbutic condition。
The sick within the Stockade lay under several long sheds which were
originally built for barracks。 These sheds covered two floors which were
open on all sides。 The sick lay upon the bare boards； or upon such
ragged blankets as they possessed； without； as far as I observed； any
bedding or even straw。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
The haggard； distressed countenances of these miserable； complaining；
dejected； living skeletons； crying for medical aid and food； and cursing
their Government for its refusal to exchange prisoners； and the ghastly
corpses； with their glazed eye balls staring up into vacant space； with
the flies swarming down their open and grinning mouths； and over their
ragged clothes； infested with numerous lice； as they lay amongst the sick
and dying； formed a picture of helpless； hopeless misery which it would
be impossible to portray bywords or by the brush。 A feeling of
disappointment and even resentment on account of the United States
Government upon the subject of the exchange of prisoners； appeared to be
widespread； and the apparent hopeless nature of the negotiations for some
general exchange of prisoners appeared to be a cause of universal regret
and deep and injurious despondency。 I heard some of the prisoners go so
far as to exonerate the Confederate Government from any charge of
intentionally subjecting them to a protracted confinement； with its
necessary and unavoidable sufferings； in a country cut off from all
intercourse with foreign nations； and sorely pressed on all sides； whilst
on the other hand they charged their prolonged captivity upon their own
Government； which was attempting to make the negro equal to the white
man。 Some hundred or more of the prisoners had been released from
confinement in the Stockade on parole； and filled various offices as
clerks； druggists； and carpenters； etc。； in the various departments。
These men were well clothed； and presented a stout and healthy
appearance； and as a general rule they presented a much more robust and
healthy appearance than the Confederate troops guarding the prisoners。
The entire grounds are surrounded by a frail board fence； and are
strictly guarded by Confederate soldiers； and no prisoner except the
paroled attendants is allowed to leave the grounds except by a special
permit from the Commandant of the Interior of the Prison。
The patients and attendants； near two thousand in number； are crowded
into this confined space and are but poorly supplied with old and ragged
tents。 Large numbers of them were without any bunks in the tents； and
lay upon the ground； oft…times without even a blanket。 No beds or straw
appeared to have been furnished。 The tents extend to within a few yards
of the small stream； the eastern portion of which； as we have before
said； is used as a privy and is loaded with excrements； and I observed a
large pile of corn…bread； bones； and filth of all kinds； thirty feet in
diameter and several feet in hight； swarming with myriads of flies； in a
vacant space near the pots used for cooking。 Millions of flies swarmed
over everything； and covered the faces of the sleeping patients； and
crawled down their open mouths； and deposited their maggots in the
gangrenous wounds of the living； and in the mouths of the dead。 Musketos
in great numbers also infested the tents； and many of the patients were
so stung by these pestiferous insects； that they resembled those
suffering from a slight attack of the measles。
The police and hygiene of the hospital were defective in the extreme；
the attendants； who appeared in almost every instance to have been
selected from the prisoners； seemed to have in many cases but little
interest in the welfare of their fellow…captives。 The accusation was
made that the nurses in many cases robbed the sick of their clothing；
money； and rations； and carried on a clandestine trade with the paroled
prisoners and Confederate guards without the hospital enclosure； in the
clothing； effects of the sick； dying； and dead Federals。 They certainly
appeared to neglect the comfort and cleanliness of the sick intrusted to
their care in a most shameful manner； even after making due allowances
for the difficulties of the situation。 Many of the sick were literally
encrusted with dirt and filth and covered with vermin。 When a gangrenous
wound needed washing； the limb was thrust out a little from the blanket；
or board； or rags upon which the patient was lying； and water poured over
it； and all the putrescent matter allowed to soak into the ground floor
of the tent。 The supply of rags for dressing wounds was said to be very
scant； and I saw the most filthy rags which had been applied several
times； and imperfectly washed； used in dressing wounds。 Where hospital
gangrene was prevailing； it was impossible for any wound to escape
contagion under these circumstances。 The results of the treatment of
wounds in the hospital were of the most unsatisfactory character； from
this neglect of cleanliness； in the dressings and wounds themselves； as
well as from various other causes which will be more fully considered。
I saw several gangrenous wounds filled with maggots。 I have frequently
seen neglected wounds amongst the Confederate soldiers similarly
affected； and as far as my experience extends； these worms destroy only
the dead tissues and do not injure specially the well parts。 I have even
heard surgeons affirm that a gangrenous wound which had been thoroughly
cleansed by maggots； healed more rapidly than if it had been left to
itself。 This want of cleanliness on the part of the nurses appeared to
be the result of carelessness and inattention； rather than of malignant
design； and the whole trouble can be traced to the want of the proper
police and sanitary regulations； and to the absence of intelligent
organization and division of labor。 The abuses were in a large measure
due to the almost total absence of system； government； and rigid； but
wholesome sanitary regulations。 In extenuation of these abuses it was
alleged by the medical officers that the Confederate troops were barely
sufficient to guard the prisoners； and that it was impossible to obtain
any number of experienced nurses from the Confederate forces。 In fact
the guard appeared to be too small； even for the regulation of the
internal hygiene and police of the hospital。
The manner of disposing of the dead was also calculated to depress the
already desponding spirits of these men； many of whom have been confined
for months； and even for nearly two years in Richmond and other places；
and whose strength had been wasted by bad air； bad food； and neglect of
personal