andersonville-第51部分

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Gilbert　Blane；　and　others　of　the　English　navy　and　army；　it　is　evident
that　the　scorbutic　condition　of　the　system；　especially　in　crowded　ships
and　camps；　is　most　favorable　to　the　origin　and　spread　of　foul　ulcers　and
hospital　gangrene。　　As　in　the　present　case　of　Andersonville；　so　also　in
past　times　when　medical　hygiene　was　almost　entirely　neglected；　those　two
diseases　were　almost　universally　associated　in　crowded　ships。　　In　many
cases　it　was　very　difficult　to　decide　at　first　whether　the　ulcer　was　a
simple　result　of　scurvy　or　of　the　action　of　the　prison　or　hospital
gangrene；　for　there　was　great　similarity　in　the　appearance　of　the　ulcers
in　the　two　diseases。　　So　commonly　have　those　two　diseases　been　combined
in　their　origin　and　action；　that　the　description　of　scorbutic　ulcers；　by
many　authors；　evidently　includes　also　many　of　the　prominent
characteristics　of　hospital　gangrene。　　This　will　be　rendered　evident　by
an　examination　of　the　observations　of　Dr。　Lind　and　Sir　Gilbert　Blane　upon
scorbutic　ulcers。

6th。　　Gangrenous　spots　followed　by　rapid　destruction　of　tissue　appeared
in　some　cases　where　there　had　been　no　known　wound。　　Without　such　well…
established　facts；　it　might　be　assumed　that　the　disease　was　propagated
from　one　patient　to　another。　　In　such　a　filthy　and　crowded　hospital　as
that　of　the　Confederate　States　Military　Prison　at　Andersonville；　it　was
impossible　to　isolate　the　wounded　from　the　sources　of　actual　contact　of
the　gangrenous　matter。　　The　flies　swarming　over　the　wounds　and　over　filth
of　every　kind；　the　filthy；　imperfectly　washed　and　scanty　supplies　of
rags；　and　the　limited　supply　of　washing　utensils；　the　same　wash…bowl
serving　for　scores　of　patients；　were　sources　of　such　constant　circulation
of　the　gangrenous　matter　that　the　disease　might　rapidly　spread　from　a
single　gangrenous　wound。　　The　fact　already　stated；　that　a　form　of　moist
gangrene；　resembling　hospital　gangrene；　was　quite　common　in　this　foul
atmosphere；　in　cases　of　dysentery；　both　with　and　without　the　existence　of
the　disease　upon　the　entire　surface；　not　only　demonstrates　the　dependence
of　the　disease　upon　the　state　of　the　constitution；　but　proves　in　the
clearest　manner　that　neither　the　contact　of　the　poisonous　matter　of
gangrene；　nor　the　direct　action　of　the　poisonous　atmosphere　upon　the
ulcerated　surfaces　is　necessary　to　the　development　of　the　disease。

7th。　　In　this　foul　atmosphere　amputation　did　not　arrest　hospital
gangrene；　the　disease　almost　invariably　returned。　　Almost　every
amputation　was　followed　finally　by　death；　either　from　the　effects　of
gangrene　or　from　the　prevailing　diarrhea　and　dysentery。　　Nitric　acid　and
escharotics　generally　in　this　crowded　atmosphere；　loaded　with　noxious
effluvia；　exerted　only　temporary　effects；　after　their　application　to　the
diseased　surfaces；　the　gangrene　would　frequently　return　with　redoubled
energy；　and　even　after　the　gangrene　had　been　completely　removed　by　local
and　constitutional　treatment；　it　would　frequently　return　and　destroy　the
patient。　　As　far　as　my　observation　extended；　very　few　of　the　cases　of
amputation　for　gangrene　recovered。　　The　progress　of　these　cases　was
frequently　very　deceptive。　　I　have　observed　after　death　the　most
extensive　disorganization　of　the　structures　of　the　stump；　when　during
life　there　was　but　little　swelling　of　the　part；　and　the　patient　was
apparently　doing　well。　　I　endeavored　to　impress　upon　the　medical　officers
the　view　that　in　this　disease　treatment　was　almost　useless；　without　an
abundant　supply　of　pure；　fresh　air；　nutritious　food；　and　tonics　and
stimulants。　　Such　changes；　however；　as　would　allow　of　the　isolation　of
the　cases　of　hospital　gangrene　appeared　to　be　out　of　the　power　of　the
medical　officers。

8th。　　The　gangrenous　mass　was　without　true　pus；　and　consisted　chiefly　of
broken…down；　disorganized　structures。　　The　reaction　of　the　gangrenous
matter　in　certain　stages　was　alkaline。

9th。　　The　best；　and　in　truth　the　only　means　of　protecting　large　armies
and　navies；　as　well　as　prisoners；　from　the　ravages　of　hospital　gangrene；
is　to　furnish　liberal　supplies　of　well…cured　meat；　together　with　fresh
beef　and　vegetables；　and　to　enforce　a　rigid　system　of　hygiene。

10th。　　Finally；　this　gigantic　mass　of　human　misery　calls　loudly　for
relief；　not　only　for　the　sake　of　suffering　humanity；　but　also　on　account
of　our　own　brave　soldiers　now　captives　in　the　hands　of　the　Federal
Government。　　Strict　justice　to　the　gallant　men　of　the　Confederate　Armies；
who　have　been　or　who　may　be；　so　unfortunate　as　to　be　compelled　to
surrender　in　battle；　demands　that　the　Confederate　Government　should　adopt
that　course　which　will　best　secure　their　health　and　comfort　in　captivity；
or　at　least　leave　their　enemies　without　a　shadow　of　an　excuse　for　any
violation　of　the　rules　of　civilized　warfare　in　the　treatment　of
prisoners。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　＇End　of　the　Witness's　Testimony。＇


The　variationfrom　month　to　monthof　the　proportion　of　deaths　to　the
whole　number　living　is　singular　and　interesting。　　It　supports　the　theory
I　have　advanced　above；　as　the　following　facts；　taken　from　the　official
report；　will　show：
　　　　　In　April　one　in　every　sixteen　died。
　　　　　In　May　one　in　every　twenty…six　died。
　　　　　In　June　one　in　every　twenty…two　died。
　　　　　In　July　one　in　every　eighteen　died。
　　　　　In　August　one　in　every　eleven　died。
　　　　　In　September　one　in　every　three　died。
　　　　　In　October　one　in　every　two　died。
　　　　　In　November　one　in　every　three　died。

Does　the　reader　fully　understand　that　in　September　one…third　of　those　in
the　pen　died；　that　in　October　one…half　of　the　remainder　perished；　and　in
November　one…third　of　those　who　still　survived；　died？　　Let　him　pause　for
a　moment　and　read　this　over　carefully　again；　because　its　startling
magnitude　will　hardly　dawn　upon　him　at　first　reading。　　It　is　true　that
the　fearfully　disproportionate　mortality　of　those　months　was　largely　due
to　the　fact　that　it　was　mostly　the　sick　that　remained　behind；　but　even
this　diminishes　but　little　the　frightfulness　of　the　showing。　　Did　any　one
ever　hear　of　an　epidemic　so　fatal　that　one…third　of　those　attacked　by　it
in　one　month　died；　one…half　of　the　remnant　the　next　month；　and　one…third
of　the　feeble　remainder　the　next　month？　　If　he　did；　his　reading　has　been
much　more　extensive　than　mine。

The　greatest　number　of　deaths　in　one　day　is　reported　to　have　occurred　on
the　23d　of　August；　when　one　hundred　and　twenty…seven　died；　or　one　man
every　eleven　minutes。

The　greatest　number　of　prisoners　in　the　Stockade　is　stated　to　have　been
August　8；　when　there　were　thirty…three　thousand　one　hundred　and　fourteen。

I　have　always　imagined　both　these　statements　to　be　short　of　the　truth；
because　my　remembrance　is　that　one　day　in　August　I　counted　over　two
hundred　dead　lying　in　a　row。　　As　for　the　greatest　number　of　prisoners；
I　remember　quite　distinctly　standing　by　the　ration　wagon　during　the　whole
time　of　the　delivery　of　rations；　to　see　how　many　prisoners　there　really
were　inside。　　That　day　the　One　Hundred　and　Thirty…Third　Detachment　was
called；　and　its　Sergeant　came　up　and　drew　rations　for　a　full　detachment。
All　the　other　detachments　were　habitually　kept　full　by　replacing　those
who　died　with　new　comers。　　As　each　detachment　consisted　of　two　hundred
and　seventy　men；　one　hundred　and　thirty…three　detachments　would　make
thirty…five　thousand　nine　hundred　and　ten；　exclusive　of　those　in　the
hospital；　and　those　detailed　outside　as　cooks；　clerks；　hospital
attendants　and　various　other　employmentssay　from　one　to　two　thousand
more。




CHAPTER　XLIII。

DIFFICULTY　OF　EXERCISINGEMBARRASSMENTS　OF　A　MORNING　WALKTHE　RIALTO
OF　THE　PRISONCURSING　THE　SOUTHERN　CONFEDERACYTHE　STORY　OF　THE　BATTLE
OF　SPOTTSYLVANIA　COURTHOUSE。

Certainly；　in　no　other　great　community；　that　ever　existed　upon　the　face
of　the　globe　was　there　so　little　daily　ebb　and　flow　as　in　this。　　Dull　as
an　ordinary　Town　or　City　may　be；　however　monotonous；　eventless；　even
stupid　the　lives　of　its　citizens；　there　is　yet；　nevertheless；　a　flow
every　day　of　its　life…bloodits　population　towards　its　heart；　and　an　ebb
of　the　same；　every　evening　towards　its　extremities。　　These　recurring
tides　mingle　all　classes　together　and　promote　the　general　healthfulness；
as　the　constant　motion　hither　and　yon　of　the　ocean's　waters　purify　and
sweeten　them。

The　lack　of　these　helped　vastly　to　make　the　living　mass　inside　the
Stockade　a　human　Dead　Seaor　rather　a　Dying　Seaa　putrefying；　stinking
lake；　resolving　itself　into　phosphorescent　corruption；　like　those　rotting
southern　seas；　whose　seething　filth　burns　in　hideous　reds；　and　ghastly
greens　and　yellows。

Being　little　call　for　motion　of　any　kind；　and　no　room　to　exercise
whatever　wish　there　might　be　in　that　direction；　very　many　succumbed
unresistingly　to　the　apathy　which　was　so　strongly　favored　by　despondency
and　the　weakness　induced　by　continual　hunger；　and　lying　supinely　on　the
hot　sand；　day　in　and　day　out；　speedily　brought　themselves　into　such　a
condition　as　invited　the　attacks　of　disease。

It　required　both　determination　and　effort　to　take　a　little　walking
exercise。　　The　ground　was　so　densely　crowded　with　holes　and　other　devices
for　shelter　that　it　took　one　at　least　ten　minutes　to　pick　his　way　through
the　narrow　and　tortuous　labyrinth　which　served　as　paths　for　communication
between　different　parts　of　the　Camp。　　Still　further；　there　was　nothing　to
see　anywhere　or　to　form　sufficient　inducement　for　any　one　to　make　so
laborious　a　journey。　　One　simply　encountered　at　every　new　step　the　same
unwelcome　sights　that　he　had　just　left；　there　was　a　monotony　in　the
misery　as　in　everything　else；　and　consequently　the　temptation　to　sit　or
lie　still　in　one's　own　quarters　became　very　great。

I　used　to　make　it　a　point　to　go　to　some　of　the　remoter　parts　of　the
Stockade　once　every　day；　simply　for　exercise。　　One　can　gain　some　idea　of
the　crowd；　and　the　difficulty　of　making　one's　way　through　it；　when　I　say
that　no　point　in　the　prison　could　be　more　than　fifteen　hundred　feet　from
where　I　staid；　and；　had　the　way　been　clear；　I　could　have　walked　thither
and　back　in　at　most　a　half　an　hour；　yet　it　usually　took　me　from　two　to
three　hours　to　make　one　of　these　journeys。

This　daily　trip；　a　few　visits　to　the　C