Statistical report on the sickness and mortality in the Army of the United States : embracing a period of sixteen years, from January 1839 to January 1855 / compiled from the records of the Surgeon General's Office ; prepared under the direction of Thomas Lawson by Richard H. Coolidge.

  • Coolidge, Richard H. (Richard Henry), 1816-1866.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statistical report on the sickness and mortality in the Army of the United States : embracing a period of sixteen years, from January 1839 to January 1855 / compiled from the records of the Surgeon General's Office ; prepared under the direction of Thomas Lawson by Richard H. Coolidge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    men, informed me that only three out of the numher left their camps, and that none of these were seriously ill. The same state of good health prevailed in most of the other parties who were encamped ahove the fort, on the St. John's and its branches. Two cases of simple frac- ture—one of the fihula, the other of the clavicle—and a few incised wounds from careless blows with the axe, were the only accidents that came under my care during the past winter. In consequence of their uncleanly habits, and a gross stimulating diet, they frequently suffer from cutaneous diseases, particularly the different varieties of eczema and lichen. Severe attacks of lichen agrius were found perfectly manageable under a system of alteratives, gentle laxatives, a complete change of diet, and a due regard to cleanliness. The same causes, with the irritation of the smoke (often very troublesome in the camps), renders the tinea ciliaris, with slight inflammation of the meibomian follicles, a very common affection. Another dis- ease of the eyes, to which not only lumbermen and teamsters, but all others who are much in the open air, are subject, is hemeralopia. It is most common in the months of March and April, when the length of the days has become considerable, and the men are exposed during this time to the bright light reflected from the snow, which covers the whole surface of the ground. It would doubtless be a complaint of much greater severity, and much more frequent occurrence, were it not that the proportion of cloudy days considerably exceeds that of clear ones. The cases, not very numerous, were easily cured by confinement to dark apartments, and avoidance of exposure to the exciting cause. I have met with a considerable number of cases of dyspepsia among these lumbermen, the disease originating from the gross nature of their diet, aided no doubt by the large quantities of salaeratus which the camp cooks mix with their flour, to lighten their bread. On breaking a loaf, it is frequently found full of portions of a yellowish or yellowish-green tinge, rather disagreeable to an uninitiated taste, but preferred by the men, who insist upon its use. A com- plete change of diet, with alterative and anodyne medicines, generally effected a cure in a very short time. When the rivers open in the spring, about the middle or last of April, the lumbermen take advantage of the freshet to drive their timber to market. For two or three weeks, the men employed on this duty are engaged from sunrise to dark in setting free the logs of timber, often many tons in weight, which have caught and grounded on the bars or shores during the rise or fall of the water. During the whole of this time, they are using the most violent exer- tions, with their lower extremities constantly immersed in water of an extremely low temper- ature. They lie down at night, weary and exhausted, without changing their clothes, in front of a camp-fire, or on the floor of some convenient hut. From this exposure, rheumatic affec- tions originate, not often of the acute form, but mostly subacute and chronic; and to these they often remain martyrs through a long life. It is a little singular, that during the two 11 driving'' seasons I have been at the post, only two cases of bronchitis and one of tonsillitis have presented themselves for treatment, and attributed their maladies to this exposure. Not a single case of pneumonia or pleurisy. Some of these parties are allowed the free use of spirituous liquors, while others are conducted on the temperance plan. Several cases of scurvy have placed themselves under my care ; the disease makes its appear- ance in the spring months, in those who have been unusually restricted to a salt diet. This malady prevailed in former years to a very considerable extent, and used to be of frequent oc- currence among the provincial camps on the Eestigouche. Only one of the cases under my charge was of any severity. The man had been left at a camp on the Black river, in charge of some cattle, with no other provisions than salt pork and flour. Had he not been providentially discovered by some timber explorers, he would have perished in the wilderness. When brought by canoe to the fort, he presented some of the worst features of the disease—extreme debility ; soft, spongy, ulcerated, and bleeding gums; subcutaneous effusions of blood, &c. He speedily recovered under the ordinary antiscorbutic treatment. The region adjacent to Fort Kent is probably one of the healthiest within the limits of the