aswasquitelikelywithamanofhisshallop'brainandvacillatingtemper——tobesimplyreturnedtothestockade。
Nothing,Iamsure,sincethedaysoftheInquisition——orstilllater,sincetheterriblepunishmentsvisitedupontheinsurgentsof1848bytheAustrianaristocrats——hasbeensodiabolicalasthestocksandchain—
gangs,asusedbyWirz。Atonetimesevenmen,sittinginthestocksneartheStarFort——inplainviewofthecamp——becameobjectsofinteresttoeverybodyinside。Theywereneverrelievedfromtheirpainfulposition,butwerekeptthereuntilallofthemdied。Ithinkitwasnearlytwoweeksbeforethelastonesuccumbed。Whattheyenduredinthattimeevenimaginationcannotconceive——IdonotthinkthatanIndiantribeeverdevisedkeenertortureforitscaptives。
Thechain—gangconsistedofanumberofmen——varyingfromtwelvetotwenty—five,allchainedtoonesixty—fourpoundball。TheywerealsostationedneartheStarFort,standingoutinthehotsun,withoutaparticleofshadeoverthem。Whenonemovedtheyallhadtomove。
Theywerescourgedwiththedysentery,andthenecessitiesofsomeoneoftheirnumberkeptthemconstantlyinmotion。Icanseethemdistinctlyyet,trampinglaboriouslyandpainfullybackandforwardoverthatburninghillside,everymomentofthelong,wearySummerdays。
AcomradewritestoremindmeofthebeneficentworkoftheMasonicOrder。Imentionitmostgladly,asitwasthesolerecognitiononthepartofanyofourfoesofourclaimstohumankinship。Thechurchesofalldenominations——exceptthesolitaryCatholicpriest,FatherHamilton,——ignoredusaswhollyasifweweredumbbeasts。Layhumanitarianswereequallyindifferent,andtheonlyinterestmanifestedbyanyRebelinthewelfareofanyprisonerwasbytheMasonicbrotherhood。TheRebelMasonsinterestedthemselvesinsecuringdetailsoutsidetheStockadeinthecookhouse,thecommissary,andelsewhere,forthebrethrenamongtheprisonerswhowouldacceptsuchfavors。Suchasdidnotfeelinclinedtogooutsideonparolereceivedfrequentpresentsinthewayoffood,andespeciallyofvegetables,whichwereliterallybeyondprice。MaterialsweresentinsidetobuildtentsfortheMasons,andIthinksuchasmadethemselvesknownbeforedeath,receivedburialaccordingtotheritesoftheOrder。DoctorWhite,andperhapsotherSurgeons,belongedtothefraternity,andthewearingofaMasonicemblembyanewprisonerwasprettysuretocatchtheireyes,andbethemeansofsecuringforthewearerthetenderoftheirgoodoffices,suchasadetailintotheHospitalasnurse,ward—master,etc。
Iwasnotfortunateenoughtobeoneofthemysticbrethren,andsomissedallshareinanyofthesebenefits,aswellasinanyothers,andItakespecialprideinonething:thatduringmywholeimprisonmentIwasnotbeholdentoaRebelforasinglefavorofanykind。TheRebeldoesnotlivewhocansaythatheevergavemesomuchasahandfulofmeal,aspoonfulofsalt,aninchofthread,orastickofwood。
FromfirsttolastIreceivednothingbutmyrations,exceptoccasionaltriflesthatIsucceededinstealingfromthestupidofficerschargedwithissuingrations。IowenomanintheSouthernConfederacygratitudeforanything——notevenforakindword。
Speakingofsecretsocietypinsrecallsanoteworthystorywhichhasbeentoldmesincethewar,ofboyswhomIknew。AtthebreakingoutofhostilitiesthereexistedinToledoafestivelittlesecretsociety,suchaslurkingboysfrequentlyorganize,withnootherobjectthanfunandtheusualadolescentloveofmystery。Therewereadozenorsomembersinitwhocalledthemselves"TheRoyalReubens,"andwereheadedbyabookbindernamedNedHopkins。SomeonestartedabranchoftheOrderinNapoleon,O。,andamongthememberswasCharlesE。Reynolds,ofthattown。Thebadgeofthesocietywasapeculiarlyshapedgoldpin。
ReynoldsandHopkinsnevermet,andhadnoacquaintancewitheachother。
Whenthewarbrokeout,HopkinsenlistedinBatteryH,FirstOhioArtillery,andwassenttotheArmyofthePotomac,wherehewascaptured,intheFallof1863,whilescouting,intheneighborhoodofRichmond。ReynoldsenteredtheSixty—EighthOhioVolunteerInfantry,andwastakenintheneighborhoodofJackson,Miss。,——twothousandmilesfromtheplaceofHopkins'scapture。AtAndersonvilleHopkinsbecameoneoftheofficersinchargeoftheHospital。OnedayaRebelSergeant,whocalledtherollintheStockade,afterstudyingHopkins'spinaminute,said:
"IseedaYankintheStockadeto—daya—wearingapinegzacklylikethatere。"
ThisarousedHopkins'sinterest,andhewentinsideinsearchoftheother"feller。"Havinghissquadanddetachmenttherewaslittledifficultyinfindinghim。Herecognizedthepin,spoketoitswearer,gavehimthe"grandhailingsign"ofthe"RoyalReubens,"anditwasdulyrespondedto。TheupshotofthematterwasthathetookReynoldsoutwithhimasclerk,andsavedhislife,asthelatterwasgoingdownhillveryrapidly。Reynolds,inturn,securedthedetailofacomradeoftheSixty—Eighthwhowasfailingfast,andsucceededinsavinghislife——allofwhichhappyresultsweredirectlyattributabletothatinsignificantboyishsociety,anditsequallyunimportantbadgeofmembership。
AlonginthelastofAugusttheRebelslearnedthattherewerebetweentwoandthreehundredCaptainsandLieutenantsintheStockade,passingthemselvesoffasenlistedmen。Themotiveoftheseofficerswastwo—
fold:first,achivalrouswishtosharethefortunesandfateoftheirboys,andsecond,disinclinationtogratifytheRebelsbytheknowledgeoftherankoftheircaptives。ThesecretwassowellkeptthatnoneofussuspectedituntilthefactwasannouncedbytheRebelsthemselves。
Theyweretakenoutimmediately,andsenttoMacon,wherethecommissionedofficers'prisonwas。Itwouldnotdototrustsuchpossibleleaderswithusanotherday。
CHAPTERL
FOOD——THEMEAGERNESS,INFERIORQUALITY,ANDTERRIBLESAMENESS——
REBELTESTIMONYONTHESUBJECT——FUTILITYOFSUCCESSFULEXPLANATION。
Ihaveinotherplacesdweltupontheinsufficiencyandthenauseousnessofthefood。NowordsthatIcanuse,noinsistenceuponthistheme,cangivethereaderanyideaofitsmortalimportancetous。
Letthereaderconsiderforamomentthequantity,quality,andvarietyoffoodthathenowholdstobenecessaryforthemaintenanceoflifeandhealth。Itrustthateveryonewhoperusesthisbook——thateveryoneinfactoverwhomtheStarsandStripeswave——hashiscupofcoffee,hisbiscuitsandhisbeefsteakforbreakfast——asubstantialdinnerofroastorboiled——andalighter,butstillsufficientmealintheevening。
Inall,certainlynotlessthanfiftydifferentarticlesaresetbeforehimduringtheday,forhischoiceaselementsofnourishment。Lethimscanthisextendedbill—of—fare,whichlongcustomhasmadesocommon—
placeastobeuninteresting——perhapsevenwearisometothinkabout——
andseewhathecouldomitfromit,ifnecessitycompelledhim。Afterareluctantfarewelltofish,butter,eggs,milk,sugar,greenandpreservedfruits,etc。,hethinksthatperhapsunderextraordinarycircumstanceshemightbeabletomerelysustainlifeforalimitedperiodonadietofbreadandmeatthreetimesaday,washeddownwithcreamless,unsweetenedcoffee,andvariedoccasionallywithadditionsofpotatos,onions,beans,etc。ItwouldastonishtheInnocenttohaveoneofourveteransinformhimthatthiswasnoteventhefirststageofdestitution;thatasoldierwhohadthesewasexpectedtobeonthesummitlevelofcontentment。AnyoftheboyswhofollowedGranttoAppomattoxCourtHouse,ShermantotheSea,or"Pap"ThomastillhisgloriouscareerculminatedwiththeannihilationofHood,willtellhimofmanyweekswhenasliceoffatporkonapieceof"hardtack"hadtododutyforthebreakfastofbeefsteakandbiscuits;whenanothersliceoffatporkandanothercrackerservedforthedinnerofroastbeefandvegetables,andathirdcrackerandsliceofporkwasasubstituteforthesupperoftoastandchops。
Isaytotheseveteransinturnthattheydidnotarriveatthefirststagesofdestitutioncomparedwiththedepthstowhichweweredragged。
Therestrictionforafewweekstoadietofcrackersandfatporkwascertainlyahardship,butthecrackersalone,chemiststellus,containalltheelementsnecessarytosupportlife,andinourArmytheywerealwayswellmadeandverypalatable。IbelieveIrisknothinginsayingthatoneoftheordinarysquarecrackersofourCommissaryDepartmentcontainedmuchmorerealnutrimentthanthewholeofouraverageration。
Ihavebeforecomparedthesize,shapeandappearanceofthedailyhalfloafofcornbreadissuedtoustoahalf—brick,andIdonotyetknowofamorefittingcomparison。Atfirstwegotasmallpieceofrustybaconalongwiththis;butthesizeofthisdiminishedsteadilyuntilatlastitfadedawayentirely,andduringthelastsixmonthsofourimprisonmentIdonotbelievethatwereceivedrationsofmeataboveahalf—dozentimes。
Tothissmallnesswasaddedineffablebadness。Themealwasgroundverycoarsely,bydull,weaklypropelledstones,thatimperfectlycrushedthegrains,andleftthetough,hardcoatingofthekernelsinlarge,sharp,mica—likescales,whichcutandinflamedthestomachandintestines,likehandfulsofpoundedglass。Thealimentarycanalsofallcompelledtoeatitwerekeptinacontinualstateofirritationthatusuallyterminatedinincurabledysentery。
ThatIhavenotover—statedthisevilcanbeseenbyreferencetothetestimonyofsocompetentascientificobserverasProfessorJones,andI
addtothatunimpeachabletestimonythefollowingextractfromthestatementmadeinanattempteddefenseofAndersonvillebyDoctorR。
RandolphStevenson,whostyleshimself,formerlySurgeonintheArmyoftheConfederateStatesofAmerica,ChiefSurgeonoftheConfederateStatesMilitaryPrisonHospitals,Andersonville,Ga。":
V。Fromthesamenessofthefood,andfromtheactionofthepoisonousgasesinthedenselycrowdedandfilthyStockadeandHospital,thebloodwasalteredinitsconstitution,even,beforethemanifestationofactualdisease。
Inboththewellandthesick,theredcorpuscleswerediminished;andinalldiseasesuncomplicatedwithinflammation,thefibrinouselementwasdeficient。Incasesofulcerationofthemucousmembraneoftheintestinalcanal,thefibrinouselementofthebloodappearedtobeincreased;whileinsimplediarrhea,uncomplicatedwithulceration,anddependentuponthecharacterofthefoodandtheexistenceofscurvy,itwaseitherdiminishedorremainedstationary。Heart—clotswereverycommon,ifnotuniversallypresent,inthecasesofulcerationoftheintestinalmucousmembrane;whileintheuncomplicatedcasesofdiarrheaandscurvy,thebloodwasfluidanddidnotcoagulatereadily,andtheheart—clotsandfibrinousconcretionswerealmostuniversallyabsent。
Fromthewateryconditionofthebloodthereresultedvariousserouseffusionsintothepericardium,intotheventriclesofthebrain,andintotheabdominalcavity。
InalmostallcaseswhichIexaminedafterdeath,eveninthemostemaciated,therewasmoreorlessserouseffusionintotheabdominalcavity。Incasesofhospitalgangreneoftheextremities,andincasesofgangreneoftheintestines,heart—clotsandfirmcoagulawereuniversallypresent。Thepresenceoftheseclotsinthecasesofhospitalgangrene,whilsttheywereabsentinthecasesinwhichtherewerenoinflammatorysymptoms,appearstosustaintheconclusionthathospitalgangreneisaspeciesofinflammation（imperfectandirregularthoughitmaybeinitsprogress）,inwhichthefibrinouselementandcoagulabilityofthebloodareincreased,eveninthosewhoaresufferingfromsuchaconditionofthebloodandfromsuchdiseasesasarenaturallyaccompaniedwithadecreaseinthefibrinousconstituent。
VI。Theimpoverishedconditionoftheblood,whichledtoserouseffusionswithintheventriclesofthebrain,andaroundthebrainandspinalcord,andintothepericardialandabdominalcavities,wasgraduallyinducedbytheactionofseveralcauses,butchieflybythecharacterofthefood。
TheFederalprisoners,asageneralrule,hadbeenreareduponwheatbreadandIrishpotatos;andtheIndiancornsoextensivelyusedattheSouth,wasalmostunknowntothemasanarticleofdietprevioustotheircapture。OwingtotheimpossibilityofobtainingthenecessarysievesintheConfederacyfortheseparationofthehuskfromthecorn—meal,therationsoftheConfederatesoldiers,aswellasoftheFederalprisoners,consistedofunboltedcorn—flour,andmealandgrist;thiscircumstancerenderedthecorn—breadstillmoredisagreeableanddistastefultotheFederalprisoners。WhileIndianmeal,evenwhenpreparedwiththehusk,isoneofthemostwholesomeandnutritiousformsoffood,ashasbeenalreadyshownbythehealthandrapidincreaseoftheSouthernpopulation,andespeciallyofthenegros,previoustothepresentwar,andbythestrength,enduranceandactivityoftheConfederatesoldiers,whowerethroughoutthewarconfinedtoagreatextenttounboltedcorn—
meal;itisneverthelesstruethatthosewhohavenotbeenreareduponcorn—meal,orwhohavenotaccustomedthemselvestoitsusegradually,becomeexcessivelytiredofthiskindofdietwhensuddenlyconfinedtoitwithoutadueproportionofwheatbread。LargenumbersoftheFederalprisonersappearedtobeutterlydisgustedwithIndiancorn,andimmensepilesofcorn—breadcouldbeseenintheStockadeandHospitalinclosures。Thosewhoweresodisgustedwiththisformoffoodthattheyhadnoappetitetopartakeofit,exceptinquantitiesinsufficienttosupplythewasteofthetissues,were,ofcourse,intheconditionofmenslowlystarving,notwithstandingthattheonlyfarinaceousformoffoodwhichtheConfederateStatesproducedinsufficientabundanceforthemaintenanceofarmieswasnotwithheldfromthem。Insuchcases,anurgentfeelingofhungerwasnotaprominentsymptom;andevenwhenitexistedatfirst,itsoondisappeared,andwassucceededbyanactualloathingoffood。Inthisstatethemuscularstrengthwasrapidlydiminished,thetissueswasted,andthethin,skeleton—likeformsmovedaboutwiththeappearanceofutterexhaustionanddejection。Thementalconditionconnectedwithlongconfinement,withthemostmiserablesurroundings,andwithnohopeforthefuture,alsodepressedallthenervousandvitalactions,andwasespeciallyactiveindestroyingtheappetite。Theeffectsofmentaldepression,andofdefectivenutrition,weremanifestednotonlyintheslow,feeblemotionsofthewasted,skeleton—likeforms,butalsoinsuchlethargy,listlessness,andtorporofthementalfacultiesasrenderedtheseunfortunatemenobliviousandindifferenttotheirafflictedcondition。Inmanycases,evenofthegreatestapparentsufferinganddistress,insteadofshowinganyanxietytocommunicatethecausesoftheirdistress,ortorelatetheirprivations,andtheirlongingsfortheirhomesandtheirfriendsandrelatives,theylayinalistless,lethargic,uncomplainingstate,takingnonoticeeitheroftheirowndistressedcondition,orofthegiganticmassofhumanmiserybywhichtheyweresurrounded。Nothingappalledanddepressedmesomuchasthissilent,uncomplainingmisery。Itisafactofgreatinterest,thatnotwithstandingthisdefectivenutritioninmensubjectedtocrowdingandfilth,contagiousfeverswererare;andtyphusfever,whichissupposedtobegeneratedinjustsuchastateofthingsasexistedatAndersonville,wasunknown。Thesefacts,establishedbymyinvestigations,standinstrikingcontrastwithsuchastatementasthefollowingbyarecentEnglishwriter:
"Adeficiencyoffood,especiallyofthenitrogenouspart,quicklyleadstothebreakingupoftheanimalframe。Plague,pestilenceandfamineareassociatedwitheachotherinthepublicmind,andtherecordsofeverycountryshowhowcloselytheyarerelated。ThemedicalhistoryofIrelandisremarkablefortheillustrationsofhowmuchmischiefmaybeoccasionedbyageneraldeficiencyoffood。Alwaysthehabitatoffever,iteverynowandthenbecomestheveryhot—bedofitspropagationanddevelopment。Lettherebebutasmallfailureintheusualimperfectsupplyoffood,andthelurkingseedsofpestilencearereadytoburstintofrightfulactivity。Thefamineofthepresentcenturyisbuttooforcibleandillustrativeofthis。Itfosteredepidemicswhichhavenotbeenwitnessedinthisgeneration,andgaverisetoscenesofdevastationandmiserywhicharenotsurpassedbythemostappallingepidemicsoftheMiddleAges。Theprincipalformofthescourgewasknownasthecontagiousfaminefever（typhus）,anditspread,notmerelyfromendtoendofthecountryinwhichithadoriginated,but,breakingthroughallboundaries,itcrossedthebroadocean,andmadeitselfpainfullymanifestinlocalitieswhereitwaspreviouslyunknown。Thousandsfellunderthevirulenceofitsaction,forwhereveritcameitstruckdownaseventhofthepeople,andofthosewhomitattacked,oneoutofnineperished。Eventhosewhoescapedthefatalinfluenceofit,wereleftthemiserablevictimsofscurvyandlowfever。"
Whilewereadilyadmitthatfamineinducesthatstateofthesystemwhichisthemostsusceptibletotheactionoffeverpoisons,andthusinducesthestateoftheentirepopulationwhichismostfavorablefortherapidanddestructivespreadofallcontagiousfevers,atthesametimeweareforcedbythefactsestablishedbythepresentwar,aswellasbyahostofothers,botholdandnew,toadmitthatwearestillignorantofthecausesnecessaryfortheoriginoftyphusfever。AddedtotheimperfectnatureoftherationsissuedtotheFederalprisoners,thedifficultiesoftheirsituationwereattimesgreatlyincreasedbythesuddenanddesolatingFederalraidsinVirginia,Georgia,andotherStates,whichnecessitatedthesuddentransportationfromRichmondandotherpointsthreatenedoflargebodiesofprisoners,withoutthepossibilityofmuchpreviouspreparation;andnotonlydidthesemensufferintransitionuponthedilapidatedandoverburdenedlineofrailroadcommunication,butafterarrivingatAndersonville,therationswerefrequentlyinsufficienttosupplythesuddenadditionofseveralthousandmen。
AndastheConfederacybecamemoreandmorepressed,andwhenpowerfulhostilearmieswereplungingthroughherbosom,theFederalprisonersofAndersonvillesufferedincrediblyduringthehastyremovaltoMillen,Savannah,Charleston,andotherpoints,supposedatthetimetobesecurefromtheenemy。Eachoneofthesecausesmustbeweighedwhenanattemptismadetoestimatetheunusualmortalityamongtheseprisonersofwar。
VII。Scurvy,arisingfromsamenessoffoodandimperfectnutrition,caused,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,nine—tenthsofthedeathsamongtheFederalprisonersatAndersonville。
Notonlywerethedeathsreferredtounknowncauses,toapoplexy,toanasarca,andtodebility,traceabletoscurvyanditseffects;andnotonlywasthemortalityinsmall—pox,pneumonia,andtyphoidfever,andinallacutediseases,morethandoubledbythescorbutictaint,buteventhoseallbutuniversalanddeadlybowelaffectionsarosefromthesamecauses,andderivedtheirfatalcharacterfromthesameconditionswhichproducedthescurvy。Intruth,thesemenatAndersonvillewereintheconditionofacrewatsea,confinedinafoulshipuponsaltmeatandunvaryingfood,andwithoutfreshvegetables。Notonlyso,buttheseunfortunateprisonersweremenforciblyconfinedandcrowdeduponashiptossedaboutonastormyocean,withoutarudder,withoutacompass,withoutaguiding—star,andwithoutanyapparentboundaryortotheirvoyage;andtheyreflectedintheirsteadilyincreasingmiseriesthedistressedconditionandwaningfortunesofdevastatedandbleedingcountry,whichwascompelled,injusticetoherownunfortunatesons,toholdthesemeninthemostdistressingcaptivity。
IsawnothinginthescurvywhichprevailedsouniversallyatAndersonville,atalldifferentfromthisdiseaseasdescribedbyvariousstandardwriters。Themortalitywasnogreaterthanthatwhichhasafflictedahundredshipsuponlongvoyages,anditdidnotexceedthemortalitywhichhas,uponmethanoneoccasion,andinamuchshorterperiodoftime,annihilatedlargearmiesanddesolatedbeleagueredcities。ThegeneralresultsofmyinvestigationsuponthechronicdiarrheaanddysenteryoftheFederalprisonersofAndersonvilleweresimilartothoseoftheEnglishsurgeonsduringthewaragainstRussia。
IX。DrugsexercisedbutlittleinfluenceovertheprogressandfatalterminationofchronicdiarrheaanddysenteryintheMilitaryPrisonandHospitalatAndersonville,chieflybecausetheproperformofnourishment（milk,rice,vegetables,anti—scorbutics,andnourishinganimalandvegetablesoups）wasnotissued,andcouldnotbeprocuredinsufficientquantitiesforthesickprisoners。
Opiumallayedpainandcheckedthebowelstemporarily,butthefraildamwassoonsweptaway,andthepatientappearstobebutlittlebetter,ifnottheworse,forthismerelypalliativetreatment。Therootofthedifficultycouldnotbereachedbydrugs;nothingshortofthewantingelementsofnutritionwouldhavetendedinanymannertorestorethetoneofthedigestivesystem,andofallthewastedanddegeneratedorgansandtissues。Myopiniontothiseffectwasexpressedmostdecidedlytothemedicalofficersinchargeoftheseunfortunatemen。Thecorrectnessofthisviewwassustainedbythehealthyandrobustconditionoftheparoledprisoners,whoreceivedanextraration,andwhowereabletomakeconsiderablesumsbytrading,andwhosuppliedthemselveswithaliberalandvarieddiet。
X。ThefactthathospitalgangreneappearedintheStockadefirst,andoriginatedspontaneously,withoutanypreviouscontagion,andoccurredsporadicallyallovertheStockadeandPrisonHospital,wasproofpositivethatthisdiseasewillarisewhenevertheconditionsofcrowding,filth,foulair,andbaddietarepresent。
TheexhalationsfromtheHospitalandStockadeappearedtoexerttheireffectstoaconsiderabledistanceoutsideoftheselocalities。
Theoriginofgangreneamongtheseprisonersappearedclearlytodependingreatmeasureuponthestateofthegeneralsystem,inducedbydiet,exposure,neglectofpersonalcleanliness;andbyvariousexternalnoxiousinfluences。Therapidityoftheappearanceandactionofthegangrenedependeduponthepowersandstateoftheconstitution,aswellasupontheintensityofthepoisonintheatmosphere,oruponthedirectapplicationofpoisonousmattertothewoundedsurface。Thiswasfurtherillustratedbytheimportantfact,thathospitalgangrene,oradiseaseresemblingthisformofgangrene,attackedtheintestinalcanalofpatientslaboringunderulcerationofthebowels,althoughtherewerenolocalmanifestationsofgangreneuponthesurfaceofthebody。ThismodeofterminationincasesofdysenterywasquitecommoninthefoulatmosphereoftheConfederateStatesMilitaryPrisonHospital;andinthedepressed,depravedconditionofthesystemoftheseFederalprisoners,deathensuedveryrapidlyafterthegangrenousstateoftheintestineswasestablished。
XI。Ascorbuticconditionofthesystemappearedtofavortheoriginoffoululcers,whichfrequentlytookontruehospitalgangrene。
Scurvyandgangrenefrequentlyexistedinthesameindividual。Insuchcases,vegetabledietwithvegetableacidswouldremovethescorbuticconditionwithoutcuringthehospitalgangrene……Scurvyconsistsnotonlyinanalterationintheconstitutionoftheblood,whichleadstopassivehemorrhagesfromthebowels,andtheeffusionintothevarioustissuesofadeeply—coloredfibrinousexudation;but,aswehaveconclusivelyshownbypostmortemexamination,thisstateisattendedwithconsistenceofthemusclesoftheheart,andthemucousmembraneofthealimentarycanal,andofsolidpartsgenerally。Wehave,accordingtotheextentofthedeficiencyofcertainarticlesoffood,everydegreeofscorbuticderangement,fromthemostfearfuldepravationofthebloodandtheperversionofeveryfunctionsubservedbythebloodtothoseslightderangementswhicharescarcelydistinguishablefromastateofhealth。Weareasyetignorantofthetruenatureofthechangesofthebloodandtissuesinscurvy,andwidefieldforinvestigationisopenforthedeterminationthecharacteristicchanges——physical,chemical,andphysiological——ofthebloodandtissues,andofthesecretionsandexcretionsofscurvy。Suchinquirieswouldbeofgreatvalueintheirbearingupontheoriginofhospitalgangrene。Uptothepresentwar,theresultsofchemicalinvestigationsuponthepathologyofthebloodinscurvywerenotonlycontradictory,butmeager,andwantinginthatcarefuldetailofthecasesfromwhichthebloodwasabstractedwhichwouldenableustoexplainthecauseoftheapparentdiscrepanciesindifferentanalyses。Thusitisnotyetsettledwhetherthefibrinisincreasedordiminishedinthisdisease;andthedifferenceswhichexistinthestatementsofdifferentwritersappeartobereferabletotheneglectofacriticalexaminationandrecordofallthesymptomsofthecasesfromwhichthebloodwasabstracted。Thetruenatureofthechangesofthebloodinscurvycanbeestablishedonlybynumerousanalysesduringdifferentstagesofthedisease,andfollowedupbycarefullyperformedandrecordedpostmortemexaminations。Withsuchdatawecouldsettlesuchimportantquestionsaswhethertheincreaseoffibrininscurvywasinvariablydependentuponsomelocalinflammation。
XII。Gangrenousspots,followedbyrapiddestructionoftissue,appearedinsomecasesinwhichtherehadbeennopreviousorexistingwoundorabrasion;andwithoutsuchwellestablishedfacts,itmightbeassumedthatthediseasewaspropagatedfromonepatienttoanotherineverycase,eitherbyexhalationsfromthegangrenoussurfaceorbydirectcontact。
InsuchafilthyandcrowdedhospitalasthatoftheConfederate,StatesMilitaryPrisonofCampSumter,Andersonville,itwasimpossibletoisolatethewoundedfromthesourcesofactualcontactofthegangrenousmatter。Thefliesswarmingoverthewoundsandoverfilthofeverydescription;thefilthy,imperfectlywashed,andscantyrags;thelimitednumberofspongesandwash—bowls（thesamewash—bowlandspongeservingforascoreormoreofpatients）,wereoneandallsourcesofsuchconstantcirculationofthegangrenousmatter,thatthediseasemightrapidlybepropagatedfromasinglegangrenouswound。Whilethefactalreadyconsidered,thataformofmoistgangrene,resemblinghospitalgangrene,wasquitecommoninthisfoulatmosphereincasesofdysentery,bothwithandwithouttheexistenceofhospitalgangreneuponthesurface,demonstratesthedependenceofthediseaseuponthestateoftheconstitution,andprovesinaclearmannerthatneitherthecontactofthepoisonousmatterofgangrene,northedirectactionofthepoisonedatmosphereupontheulceratedsurface,isnecessarytothedevelopmentofthedisease;ontheotherhand,itisequallywell—establishedthatthediseasemaybecommunicatedbythevariouswaysjustmentioned。Itisimpossibletodeterminethelengthoftimewhichragsandclothingsaturatedwithgangrenousmatterwillretainthepowerofreproducingthediseasewhenappliedtohealthywounds。ProfessorBrugmans,asquotedbyGuthrieinhiscommentariesonthesurgeryofthewarinPortugal,Spain,France,andtheNetherlands,saysthatin1797,inHolland,'charpie,'
composedoflinenthreadscutofdifferentlengths,which,oninquiry,itwasfoundhadbeenalreadyusedinthegreathospitalsinFrance,andhadbeensubsequentlywashedandbleached,causedeveryulcertowhichitwasappliedtobeaffectedbyhospitalgangrene。Guthrieaffirmsinthesamework,thatthefactthatthisdiseasewasreadilycommunicatedbytheapplicationofinstruments,lint,orbandageswhichhadbeenincontactwithinfectedparts,wastoofirmlyestablishedbytheexperienceofeveryoneinPortugalandSpaintobeamatterofdoubt。Therearefactstoshowthatfliesmaybethemeansofcommunicatingmalignantpustules。
Dr。Wagner,whohasrelatedseveralcasesofmalignantpustuleproducedinmanandbeasts,bothbycontactandbyeatingthefleshofdiseasedanimals,whichhappenedinthevillageofStriessainSaxony,in1834,givestwoveryremarkablecaseswhichoccurredeightdaysafteranybeasthadbeenaffectedwiththedisease。Bothwerewomen,oneoftwenty—sixandtheotheroffiftyyears,andinthemthepustuleswerewellmarked,andthegeneralsymptomssimilartotheothercases。Thelatterpatientsaidshehadbeenbittenbyaflyuponthebackdtheneck,atwhichpartthecarbuncleappeared;andtheformer,thatshehadalsobeenbittenupontherightupperarmbyagnat。Uponinquiry,Wagnerfoundthattheskinofoneoftheinfectedbeastshadbeenhungonaneighboringwall,andthoughtitverypossiblethattheinsectsmighthavebeenattractedtothembythesmell,andhadthenceconveyedthepoison。
[EndofDr。Stevenson'sStatement]……
Theoldadagesaysthat"Hungeristhebestsauceforpoorfood,"buthungerfailedtorenderthisdetestablestuffpalatable,anditbecamesoloathsomethatverymanyactuallystarvedtodeathbecauseunabletoforcetheirorgansofdeglutitiontoreceivethenauseousdoseandpassittothestomach。Iwasalwaysmuchhealthierthantheaverageoftheboys,andmyappetiteconsequentlymuchbetter,yetforthelastmonththatIwasinAndersonville,itrequiredallmydeterminationtocrowdthebreaddownmythroat,and,asIhavestatedbefore,Icouldonlydothisbybreakingoffsmallbitsatatime,andforcingeachdownasI
wouldapill。
Alargepartofthisrepulsivenesswasduetothecoarsenessandfoulnessofthemeal,thewretchedcooking,andthelackofsalt,buttherewasastillmorepotentreasonthanallthese。Naturedoesnotintendthatmanshalllivebybreadalone,norbyanyonekindoffood。Sheindicatesthisbythevaryingtastesandlongingsthatshegiveshim。Ifhisbodyneedsonekindofconstituents,histastesleadhimtodesirethefoodthatisrichestinthoseconstituents。Whenhehastakenasmuchashissystemrequires,thesenseofsatietysupervenes,andhe"becomestired"
ofthatparticularfood。Iftastesarenotperverted,butallowedafreebuttemperateexercise,theyarethesurestindicatorsofthewaytopreservehealthandstrengthbyajudiciousselectionofalimentation。
InthiscaseNaturewasprotestingbyarebellionofthetastesagainstanyfurtheruseofthatspeciesoffood。Shewassaying,asplainlyassheeverspoke,thatdeathcouldonlybeavertedbyachangeofdiet,whichwouldsupplyourbodieswiththeconstituentstheysosadlyneeded,andwhichcouldnotbesuppliedbycornmeal。
Howneedlesswasthisconfinementofourrationstocornmeal,andespeciallytosuchwretchedlypreparedmeal,isconclusivelyshownbytheRebeltestimonyheretoforegiven。ItwouldhavebeenverylittleextratroubletotheRebelstohavehadourmealsifted;wewouldgladlyhavedoneitourselvesifallowedtheutensilsandopportunity。Itwouldhavebeenaslittletroubletohavevariedourrationswithgreencornandsweetpotatos,ofwhichthecountrywasthenfull。