Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ILLUSTRATIONS
- CHAPTER I LOST ARMIES
- CHAP. II PRESERVATION HENCEFORTH—DESTRUCTION HITHERTO
- CHAP. III GOING OUT TO WAR
- CHAP. IV MEETING THE ENEMY
- CHAP. V A WINTER IN CAMP
- CHAP. VI PHYSICIANS, IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
- CHAP. VII THE WOUNDED AND SICK
- CHAP. VIII RESTORATION
- CHAP. IX WHAT REMAINS?
- Plate section
CHAP. III - GOING OUT TO WAR
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ILLUSTRATIONS
- CHAPTER I LOST ARMIES
- CHAP. II PRESERVATION HENCEFORTH—DESTRUCTION HITHERTO
- CHAP. III GOING OUT TO WAR
- CHAP. IV MEETING THE ENEMY
- CHAP. V A WINTER IN CAMP
- CHAP. VI PHYSICIANS, IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
- CHAP. VII THE WOUNDED AND SICK
- CHAP. VIII RESTORATION
- CHAP. IX WHAT REMAINS?
- Plate section
Summary
Hiatus in the War-Scheme. — The last time war was declared, no arrangement had been made as to who was to have the charge of the health of the army. It was plain enough who was to be responsible for the sick and well; but an utter confusion of ideas existed as to the preservation of health. No doubt it was supposed, in a vague way, as it is in civil life, that health was the natural condition of men, and would take care of itself; whereas the mortality during the seven preceding years of peace was what we have seen. If the question had been asked, how the health of the troops going to the East was provided for,—the answer would have been either that the doctors must see to that, or that the Commissariat would make the men comfortable; whereas the doctors were sure to have their hands full of their own proper business; and the Commissariat could only carry out the articles of necessity and comfort, and had nothing to do beyond supplying them. Was it the military authorities? Did not the Duke of Wellington give his attention to the health of the troops in his wars?—We know the answers. Who was to teach the military authorities about hygiene? And had they not enough to do without entering into the details of the art? The Duke of Wellington did all that a general of his time could do: but the results showed how little that was.
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- Chapter
- Information
- England and Her Soldiers , pp. 46 - 71Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1859