Invaliding of sick soldiers at home and abroad discussed.

Date:
[1866?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Invaliding of sick soldiers at home and abroad discussed. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    A / INVALIDING OF SICK SOLDIERS AT HOME AND ABROAD DISCUSSED. Reserving for a future occasion some remarks on certain defects in the Recruiting system of the British Army as now constituted, it is proposed in the present article to show that there are blemishes and inconsistencies which call for amendment in the mode of deal- ing with invalids, not only as regards those who in the course of their service become temporarily incapable of performing their duties, but also as regards those who become permanently unfit for service. In both cases an attempt will be made to suggest such changes as might, if adopted, to some extent remedy the evils pointed out as well in our recruiting as in our invaliding systems. Very early in his career the young soldier is liable to break down. The observant reader will be inclined to say, “ Surely after the very searching ordeal for the detection of latent disease through which the constitutions of recruits have to pass before they are finally approved, this ought not to happen.” Never- theless, such is the case, and it can be accounted for in various ways. His mode of life is suddenly and entirely changed, more or less, according to his previous occupation. From being perhaps badly or imperfectly clothed he is dressed in tightly- fitting garments, accustomed probably to very short commons in regard to diet, and rarely getting animal food, he suddenly gets regular and substantial meals, including animal food, every day. From a state of depression of spirits, induced from poverty and want of work, he passes into the exciting atmosphere of Mili- tary life, with its temptations and dissipations. However hard worked he may have been previously, the amount of drill which, as a recruit, he has to undergo, calls into operation joints and muscles which formerly were little used. Some of these causes produce ex- citement, some depression. Again, some men, having enlisted in hasty moments, repent having done so, and become discontented and despondent; others, feeling the separation from their relatives and friends, become home-sick and low-spirited; and many, either