andersonville-第79章
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analyses during different stages of the disease； and followed up by
carefully performed and recorded postmortem examinations。 With such data
we could settle such important questions as whether the increase of
fibrin in scurvy was invariably dependent upon some local inflammation。
XII。 Gangrenous spots； followed by rapid destruction of tissue； appeared
in some cases in which there had been no previous or existing wound or
abrasion； and without such well established facts； it might be assumed
that the disease was propagated from one patient to another in every
case； either by exhalations from the gangrenous surface or by direct
contact。
In such a filthy and crowded hospital as that of the Confederate； States
Military Prison of Camp Sumter； 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
description； the filthy； imperfectly washed； and scanty rags； the limited
number of sponges and wash…bowls （the same wash…bowl and sponge serving
for a score or more of patients）； were one and all sources of such
constant circulation of the gangrenous matter； that the disease might
rapidly be propagated from a single gangrenous wound。 While the fact
already considered； 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 hospital gangrene upon the
surface； demonstrates the dependence of the disease upon the state of the
constitution； and proves in a clear manner that neither the contact of
the poisonous matter of gangrene； nor the direct action of the poisoned
atmosphere upon the ulcerated surface； is necessary to the development of
the disease； on the other hand； it is equally well…established that the
disease may be communicated by the various ways just mentioned。 It is
impossible to determine the length of time which rags and clothing
saturated with gangrenous matter will retain the power of reproducing the
disease when applied to healthy wounds。 Professor Brugmans； as quoted by
Guthrie in his commentaries on the surgery of the war in Portugal； Spain；
France； and the Netherlands； says that in 1797； in Holland； 'charpie；'
composed of linen threads cut of different lengths； which； on inquiry； it
was found had been already used in the great hospitals in France； and had
been subsequently washed and bleached； caused every ulcer to which it was
applied to be affected by hospital gangrene。 Guthrie affirms in the same
work； that the fact that this disease was readily communicated by the
application of instruments； lint； or bandages which had been in contact
with infected parts； was too firmly established by the experience of
every one in Portugal and Spain to be a matter of doubt。 There are facts
to show that flies may be the means of communicating malignant pustules。
Dr。 Wagner； who has related several cases of malignant pustule produced
in man and beasts； both by contact and by eating the flesh of diseased
animals； which happened in the village of Striessa in Saxony； in 1834；
gives two very remarkable cases which occurred eight days after any beast
had been affected with the disease。 Both were women； one of twenty…six
and the other of fifty years； and in them the pustules were well marked；
and the general symptoms similar to the other cases。 The latter patient
said she had been bitten by a fly upon the back d the neck； at which part
the carbuncle appeared； and the former； that she had also been bitten
upon the right upper arm by a gnat。 Upon inquiry； Wagner found that the
skin of one of the infected beasts had been hung on a neighboring wall；
and thought it very possible that the insects might have been attracted
to them by the smell； and had thence conveyed the poison。
＇End of Dr。 Stevenson's Statement＇
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
The old adage says that 〃Hunger is the best sauce for poor food；〃 but
hunger failed to render this detestable stuff palatable； and it became so
loathsome that very many actually starved to death because unable to
force their organs of deglutition to receive the nauseous dose and pass
it to the stomach。 I was always much healthier than the average of the
boys； and my appetite consequently much better； yet for the last month
that I was in Andersonville； it required all my determination to crowd
the bread down my throat； and； as I have stated before； I could only do
this by breaking off small bits at a time； and forcing each down as I
would a pill。
A large part of this repulsiveness was due to the coarseness and foulness
of the meal； the wretched cooking； and the lack of salt； but there was a
still more potent reason than all these。 Nature does not intend that man
shall live by bread alone； nor by any one kind of food。 She indicates
this by the varying tastes and longings that she gives him。 If his body
needs one kind of constituents； his tastes lead him to desire the food
that is richest in those constituents。 When he has taken as much as his
system requires； the sense of satiety supervenes； and he 〃becomes tired〃
of that particular food。 If tastes are not perverted； but allowed a free
but temperate exercise； they are the surest indicators of the way to
preserve health and strength by a judicious selection of alimentation。
In this case Nature was protesting by a rebellion of the tastes against
any further use of that species of food。 She was saying； as plainly as
she ever spoke； that death could only be averted by a change of diet；
which would supply our bodies with the constituents they so sadly needed；
and which could not be supplied by corn meal。
How needless was this confinement of our rations to corn meal； and
especially to such wretchedly prepared meal； is conclusively shown by the
Rebel testimony heretofore given。 It would have been very little extra
trouble to the Rebels to have had our meal sifted； we would gladly have
done it ourselves if allowed the utensils and opportunity。 It would have
been as little trouble to have varied our rations with green corn and
sweet potatos； of which the country was then full。
A few wagon loads of roasting ears and sweet potatos would have banished
every trace of scurvy from the camp； healed up the wasting dysentery；
and saved thousands of lives。 Any day that the Rebels had chosen they
could have gotten a thousand volunteers who would have given their solemn
parole not to escape； and gone any distance into the country； to gather
the potatos and corn； and such other vegetables as were readily
obtainable； and bring； them into the camp。
Whatever else may be said in defense of the Southern management of
military prisons； the permitting seven thousand men to die of the scurvy
in the Summer time； in the midst of an agricultural region； filled with
all manner of green vegetation； must forever remain impossible of
explanation。
CHAPTER LI。
SOLICITUDE AS TO THE FATE OF ATLANTA AND SHERMAN'S ARMYPAUCITY OF NEWS
HOW WE HEARD THAT ATLANTA HAD FALLENANNOUNCEMENT OF A GENERAL
EXCHANGEWE LEAVE ANDERSONVILLE。
We again began to be exceedingly solicitous over the fate of Atlanta and
Sherman's Army： we had heard but little directly from that front for
several weeks。 Few prisoners had come in since those captured in the
bloody engagements of the 20th； 22d； and 28th of July。 In spite of their
confident tones； and our own sanguine hopes； the outlook admitted of very
grave doubts。 The battles of the last week of July had been looked at it
in the best light possibleindecisive。 Our men had held their own；
it is true； but an invading army can not afford to simply hold its own。
Anything short of an absolute success is to it disguised defeat。 Then we
knew that the cavalry column sent out under Stoneman had been so badly
handled by that inefficient commander that it had failed ridiculously in
its object； being beaten in detail； and suffering the loss of its
commander and a considerable portion of its numbers。 This had been
followed by a defeat of our infantry at Etowah Creek； and then came a
