of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 321

[D^r Wiesenthal to Council.]

Annapolis April 10^th 1776.
Gentlemen. I take the Liberty to lay before you the fol-
lowing remarks concerning the future treatment of the Sick in
our Troops. Soldiers, from their way of life being exposed to
Heats and Colds both day and night, are liable to numerous
Complaints, and Sickness of the severest kinds, which if not a
proper precaution taken, will bring on an infection, and bring
the greatest Havock in an army even more then the Sword,
this having been so often experienced, all nations have taken
the greatest care to prevent this by separating the Sick from
the healthy, and furnishing them with more comfortable Lodg-
ments and diet, besides sufficient attendance with both Physic
and nursing. As long as Troops are in Garrison it suffizes
to have but one Hospital, called the Garrison or Regimental
Hospital into which the sick are removed from the Barracks
and which is properly furnished with Bedding &c.; but when-
ever the Troops take the field another hospital must be estab-
lished, which is called the moving or flying Hospital which

attends the army wherever it marches, and is placed in the

Rear on the next plantation to receive both sick and wounded
having sufficient Bedding carried after with other necessarys
besides a Carriage with a convenient Chest of Medicines and
Bandages. But as many sick and wounded would not admit
of following the army in its march, another Hospital is erected
in some secure place called the fix't Hospital into which those
sick and wounded are removed, which have not the appear-
ance of a speedy Recovery. These Hospitals are furnished
by a commissary besides proper Bedding, with sundry articles
of diet, such as Rice, Oatmeal, Vinegar cyder, Shelled Barley,
Sugar, fresh Meat, &c &c in order for the Physician to pre-
scribe the proper diet for the different Disorders. The Physi-
cian or Surgeon General has the whole direction of these
Hospitals and has a power to appoint additional mates or dis-
charge them, according as they may be wanted or not since
the mates of the Troops can not often attend the Hospitals,
and the troops together, in this fixt hospital the medicinal shop
is generally deposited with a proper person for preparing the
medicines under the direction of the Surgeon General who
procures those medicines from time to time which become
deficient, (if to be had)
This small plan I would recomend to your Deliberation or
to lay it before the Convention that proper directions and
orders may be issued I have the honour to be with the greatest
respect, Gentlemen,
Your most hble and obed^{t
Servt
C. F. Wiesenthal}

Original.