E 631 . P68 Copy 1 U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATES IN PHILADELPHIA IN RELATION TO THE REORGANIZA- TION OP THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. At a meeting of Associates of the Sanitary Commission in Philadelphia, held the 18th inst., the subjoined Preamble and Eesolutions were adopted; Morton M'MichaTel, Hon. J. I. Clark Hare, Dr. John H. B. M'Clellan, Dr. F. G. Smith, John Welsh, and Dr. Alfred Stille being appointed the Committee under the sixth resolution. Whereas, the strength of an army depends, first, upon the health of its soldiers, since the loss of health must overcome all other sources of strength, in the disability involved in sickness and death ; and Whereas, the amount of disease and death in any army may be greatly reduced by a proper attention to preventive sanitary care in the management of soldiers when on duty, as well as when sick and wounded; and Whereas, thi measures necessary for this saving of life and health in our army have, not been, and cannot be, successfully administered by the United States Army medical department, under the organization which was considered sufficient for the service on its former limited scale, and during a period of com- parative inaction ; but can only be rendered effective through the administration of a medical staff and corps commensurate in extent and character with the vast development of the ex- isting military force of the nation. Therefore 1. Resolved^ That inasmuch as our soldiers are entitled, on every account of sound policy and justice, not less than in considera- tion of their being our fellow-citizens, friends, and relations, to the very best care that can be afforded them in health, and to the kindest and most skilful attention when disabled by disease or ■wounds, we regard the attempt to reorganize the medical de- partment of our army on a larger and more efficient basis, with great satisfaction, as a welcome movement in behalf of all who are engaged in the cause of our country. 2. Resolved^ That an organization is imperatively needed, which, in addition to the proper regulation of a well selected corps of surgeons and assistant surgeons, shall, first, elevate the military rank of the superior medical officers, and thereby increase their influence in a manner due to the value of their services, and encouraging to their aspirations for promotion as military men ; secondl}'-, shall secure to the army an indispensable and hitherto much-needed hospital and sanitary administration, by providing for an adequate staff of hospital and camp inspectors of suit- able standing and authority; and, thirdly, which shall enable the proper authorities to fill these responsible ofnces with men of superior character and experience, whose appointment shall not be governed by the age of their commissions. 3. Resolved, That the enactment of a law embodying such a sys- tem of reform in the character and operation of our army medi- cal department could not fail to have an encouraging effect upon the able and accomplished officers of which our army medical corps' is chiefly composed, and to attract a stnl larger number of desirable accessions to the junior grades from our civil hos- pitals and schools; while it would indirectly strengthen the confidence of all ranks of the army, and of the people generally, by dissipating apprehensions which the notorious amount of destitution and other needless suffering among the sick and wounded has very materially aroused. 4. Resolved, That the bill which has been presented by Senator Wilson, the chairman of the Military Committee of the United States Senate, appears to us to be a movement in the right direc- tion ; and, as such, it is earnestly commended to the considera- tion of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, as well as to the attention of all who may be interested in the welfare of our army. 5. Resolved^ That we view with gratification the evidence of interest in the subject which has been manifested by our fellow- associates and the members of the Sanitary Commission in New York and Boston^ and would cordially unite with them in urging the speedy passage of Senator Wilson's bill, with such modification as may be deemed advisable, as of great moment to- the moral and physical efficiency of our army, and to the economical prosecution of the war, as well as an act of duty and humanity to those who are risliing everything in the de- fence of our national existence and our homes. 6. Resolved^ That a committee of five associates, with power to add to their number, be appointed to proceed to Washington with a copy of these preambles and resolutions, duly signed and attested, to be submitted to the chairmen of the Military Committees of the two Houses of Congress, to the Commander- in-chief, to the Secretary of War, and to the President of the United States ; and that said committee be requested to urge the passage of such a bill as that proposed by Senator Wilson upon our Senators and Representatives, to give any aid or counsel that may be proper in perfecting the plan which it suggests, and to take such other measures in furtherance of this object as they may deem advisable. 7. Resolved^ That the members of the committee be requested to call the attention of those who may have the bill in charge to the necessity of requiring a thorough medical and general education in the officers who may fill the subordinate posts for which it provides, and to suggest the danger of any clause or provision which overlooks this necessity or fails to contemplate or provide for it. H. BiNNEY, Jr. Chairman. Attest: Edward Hartshorne, Secretary. The following is a copy of the bill alluded to in the foregoing resolutions: — "^n Act to provide for the Reorganization of the Medical Depart- ment of the ArmyT Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepresentatives, in Congress assembled, that the Medical Department of the Army shall be constituted as follows : — Section 1. There shall be one Director-General, who shall have the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier-general, and who shall, as Chief of the Medical Corps, perform the duties now assigned to the Surgeon-General, and such others as may be required by law and regulation. There shall be one Sanitary Inspector-General, who shall have the rank, pay, and emoluments of a colonel of cavalry, and who shall, under the Director-General, have the general supervision of all that relates to the sanitary condition of the army, whether in quar- ters or in camps, and with the hygiene, police, discipline, and efficiency of field and general hospitals, under such regulations as may be hereafter established. There shall be eight Sanitary Inspectors, who shall have the rank, pay, and emoluments each of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, and who shall be charged with the duty of inspecting the sanitary condition of quarters and camps, of field and general hospitals, and who shall report to the Sanitary In- spector-General, under such regulations as may be hereafter established, all circumstances relating to the sanitary condition and wants of troops and of hospitals, and to the skill, efficiency, and good conduct of the officers and attendants connected with the Medical Department. There shall be not exceeding forty surgeons of the first class, who shall have the rank, pay, and emoluments each of a major of cavalry, and who shall ordinarily be assigned to staff, bureau, and hospital duties. There shall be not exceeding fifty surgeons of the second class, who shall have the rank, pay and emoluments each of a captain of cavalry, and shall ordinarily be assigned to duty with regiments. And there shall be not exceeding one hundred assistant surgeons, who shall have the rank, pay and emoluments each of a first lieutenant of cavalry, and who shall perform such duties as are now required of assistant surgeons. There shall be not exceeding one hundred medical cadets, who shall not be less than eighteen, nor more than twenty-three years of age at the time of entering, who shall be examined by p T5oard of Medical Officers, in such branches of medical and .mitary science as the Director General may order. After three years of continuous medical service, and on their produc- ing proper testimonials of character from the medical officers with whom they have served, they may be examined for pro- motion by a Board of Medical Officers of the army. They shall have the rank, pay and emoluments of the highest grade of non-commissioned officers of the army. There shall be as many hospital stewards as the exigencies of the service may require from time to time, to be designated by a sanitary inspector, on the recommendation of the senior surgeon of the post, division, regiment or military department where their services may be required, and they shall have the rank, pay and emoluments of first sergeants of cavalry. Section 2. Be it further enacted, that immediately after the passage of this act it shall be the duty of the President to select from the medical corps of the army suitable persons to fill the offices of Director-General, Sanitary Inspector-General and Sanitary Inspectors. Provided^ That no one shall be appointed to either of said positions who shall have attained the age of sixty years. Section 3. And be it further enacted, that promotion in the medical corps, up to the grade of surgeon of the first class in- clusive, shall be by seniority; but that the grades of Director- General, Sanitary Inspector-General and Sanitary Inspectors, shall be filled by selection from the whole corps, and by such officers as shall have shown their peculiar fitness for such positions. Section 4. And be it further enacted, that the surgeons of the first and second classes provided for by the first section of this act shall be appointed from the medical corps of the army as at present organized, and in accordance with the require- ments of section third of this act; and that the consequent vacancies in the grade of assistant surgeon shall be filled by appointment from civil life; Provided, That no one shall be appointed an assistant surgeon of the army, or promoted to the grade of surgeon of the first or second class, until he shall pre- viously have been examined by a board of army medical offi- cers, and found qualified, physically, morall}^, and in medical and sanitary attainments, for the office, and the adequate per- formance of its duties. Section 5. And be it further enacted, that so much of the act of as allows additional rations to surgeons and assistant surgeons upon the completion of ten years' service in their respective grades, be, and the same is hereby repealed. Section 6. And be it further enacted that every medical officer of the army, who has attained the age of sixty-five years, or on attaining that age, shall be retired from active service, and shall be entitled to receive the pay and emoluments allowed to officers of corresponding rank by the act of 1861. Section 7. And be it further enacted, that all acts, and parts of acts, inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be and the same are hereby repealed. LIST PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATES U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. January 22, 1862. Lewis R. Ashhiirst, Wm. H. Ashhurst, Jacob Alburger, D. H. Agnew, M. D., Matthew W. Baldwin, Rev. Albert Barnes, C. B. Barclay, Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D. D., W. Dwight Bell, John Bell, M. D., Horace Binney, Jr., Rev. H. A. Boardman, D. D., John A. Brown, Adolph E. Borie,- Joseph Carson, M. D., Henry C. Carey, John C. Cresson, Caleb Cope, Arthur G. Coffin, Stephen Colwell, James M. Corse, M. D., Mordecai L. Dawson, Rev. H. W. Ducachet, D. D., Rev. W. H. Furuess, D. D , Prof. J. F. Frazer, Frederick Fraley, Samuel D. Gross, M. D., B. Gerhard, Hon. J. I. Clark Hare, Charles Hartshorne, Edward Hartshorne, M. D., Isaac Hays, M. D., Alexander Henry, Rev. E. Huttor, Wilson Jewell, M. D., Rev. John Jenkins, Thomas Kimber, Jr., F. W. Lewis, M. D., Joseph Leidy, M. D., John L. Le Conte, M. D., Samuel Lewis, M. D., J. H. B. McClellan, M. D., Morton McMichael, J. Forsyth Meigs, M. D., S V. Merrick, E. Spencer Miller, Caspar Morris, M. D., Rev. H, J. Morton, D. D., Sketchley Morton, G. W. Norris, M. D. John H. Packard, M. D., Joseph Parrish, M. D., Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D. D., Samuel Powel, William L. Rehn, Lewis Rodman, M. D., Evans Rogers, Fairman Rogers, A. Marshall Slocum, M. D., F. G. Smith, Jr., M. D., Charles J. Stille, Alfred Stille, M. D., Hon. William Strong, George H. Stuart, Thomas T. Tasker, B. T. Tredick, William M. Tilghman, John Edgar Thompson, John H. Towne, Lewis Wain, John Welsh, Ellis Yarnalh LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 744 422 7