Directions for preserving the health of soldiers : addressed to the officers of the Army of the United States / by Benjamin Rush, M.D. ... ; published by order of the Board of War.

  • Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813.
Date:
[1808]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Directions for preserving the health of soldiers : addressed to the officers of the Army of the United States / by Benjamin Rush, M.D. ... ; published by order of the Board of War. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the purity of the air. There was an instance in the last Avar between Britain and France, of a ship in sir Edward Hawke's fleet, that had abofe a hun- dred men on board ill with a low fever. This ship was obliged to bear her part in the well known battle between sir Edward and Monsieur Conflans. A few days after th^ engagement, every man on board this ship recovered, and an entire stop was put to the progress of the disease. This extraordinary event was thought to be occasioned by the explosion and effluvia of the gunpowder. I shall conclude these directions by suggesting a few hints which appear to be worthy of the atten- tion of the gentlemen of the army. Consider in the first place, that the principle study of an officer, in the time of war, should be to save the blood of his men. An heroic exploit is admired most when it has been performed with the loss of a few lives. But if it be meritorious to save the lives of soldiers by skill and attention in the field, why should it be thought less so to pre- serve them by skill and attention of another kind in a march, or an encampment? And on the con- trary, if it be criminal in an officer to sacrifice the lives of thousands by his temerity in a battle, why should it be thought less so to sacrifice twice their number in a hospital, by his negligence? Consider in the second place, that an attention to the health of your soldiers is absolutely neces- sary to form a great military character. Had ii^not been for this eminent quality, Xenophon would