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213.-to volunteer nurses.
war Department, military Hospital.
Be it known to all whom it may concern that the free services of
Miss D. L. Dix are accepted by the War Department, and that she will give at all times all necessary aid in organizing military hospitals for the care of all sick or wounded soldiers, aiding the
chief surgeons by supplying nurses and substantial means for the comfort and relief of the suffering; also, that she is fully authorized to receive, control, and disburse special supplies bestowed by individuals or associations for the comfort of their friends or the citizen soldiers from all parts of the
United States.
Given under the seal of the War Department this twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the
United States the eighty-fifth.
Army Hospital service.
Surgeon General's office, May 1, 1861.
This Department, cheerfully and thankfully recognizing the ability and energy of
Miss D. L. Dix in her arrangements for the comfort and welfare of the sick soldier in the present exigency, requests that each of the ladies who have offered their services as nurses would put themselves in communication with her before entering upon their duties, as efficient and well-directed service can only be rendered through a systematic arrangement.
It is further suggested that the ladies exert themselves to their fullest extent in preparing or supplying hospital shirts for the sick, also articles of diet, which may be preserved, as delicacies may be needed for individual cases, and such as cannot be supplied at an hour's notice.
Miss Dix's residence is at No. 505 Twelfth street, between E and F.
Respectfully,
The great number of humane persons impelled by self-sacrificing benevolence to offer their services as nurses, in the event of necessity, in the military hospitals, makes it proper to communicate a few facts briefly through the medium of the press:
1. It is the wish of the
acting Surgeon General that qualified persons communicate their names and residence to the writer; and, as no serious sickness exists at present, they are respectfully requested not to proceed to Headquarters at
Washington or elsewhere till such time as their valuable aid may be needed, when immediate notice will be given.
2. It is believed that all who offer as nurses do so with the understanding that this is a
free service — looking for no pecuniary recompense; and the writer respectfully and earnestly suggests that all who enter upon this work be provided with the means of sustaining all their personal expenses — especially as, by the army regulation, no provision is made for such service.
The matrons allowed each regiment are laundresses for special work, and in the hospitals
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hate charge of the linen, bandages, etc., which they wash and prepare for use.
With respectful consideration,
Notice.--Benevolent ladies desiring to furnish means for increasing the comforts and benefit of hastily established military hospitals, will insure success by consulting surgeons of practical knowledge and experience in their vicinity.
Pillows of various sizes and of various material for various purposes will be of much use.
At present the stock of flannel body garments and of warm socks is quite deficient and already in request.
Very respectfully,
,
Drs.
Van Buren,
Harris, and Harson, representing three associations of New York for sanitary reform in the army, have been busily engaged the last three or four days urging several measures upon the Administration.
They ask the appointment of a mixed commission, with a general supervision of all matters connected with the sanitary condition of the army.
Special attention will be given to four points, namely: The inspection of the troops, with a view to the exclusion of unsuitable persons; enlistment of a skilful cook in each company; employment of nurses educated by the
Women's Association, and of volunteer dressers, composed of young medical men.
The committee have been much pleased with their reception by the
President and the heads of Departments, all of whom manifest a disposition to profit by their friendly criticism and adopt salutary reforms.
It is not fully decided whether all the measures recommended by the committee will be adopted, but they will be fully considered, as all who have been consulted take a great interest in the matter.--
National Intelligencer, May 29.
