Part 217

Over-HOSE, mens breeches and stockings together, or leggings. Dragoons generally wear them when they appear in their watering dresses.

HOSPITAL, a place appointed for the sick and wounded men, provided with physicians, surgeons, nurses, servants, medicines, beds, &c.

HOSPITALS with military superintendants--There are four British general hospitals of this description, viz. at Plymouth, Deal, Gosport, and Portsmouth, and Chelsea.

The surgeons at Portsmouth and Deal have not any rank attached to the situation, but they receive five shillings per-day extra allowance in addition to their nett pay of ten shillings. At Plymouth a physician has charge of the hospital; he receives twenty shillings per day, but has no extra allowance. York hospital at Chelsea is attended by an assistant surgeon, being under the immediate direction of the surgeon general.

The military superintendants have five shillings over and above their nett pay, according to the rank they hold in the army.

At Gosport the military superintendant has one guinea allowed per week for lodging money, together with coals, candles, &c.

A fifth military superintendant was appointed in 1800 to take charge of the temporary hospital at Colchester.

The cause of humanity has lately been espoused by the belligerent powers of Europe in a manner which reflects credit on the enlightened age we live in. The following two articles which have been agreed upon between the Austrians and the French are illustrative of our observations.

Hospitals ought to be considered as inviolable.

Art. 1. The military hospitals shall be considered as so many inviolable asyla, where valor shall be respected, shall be assisted, and shall be free, whatever the army may be to which these hospitals belong, and upon whatever ground they may be established.

Art. 2. These hospitals shall be marked out by writings placed on the adjacent roads, in order that the troops may not approach, and that in passing they may observe silence and cease beating the drums, or sounding the trumpets.

Camp-HOSPITALS are either general or regimental. The general hospitals are of two kinds, viz.

Flying-HOSPITAL, Stationary HOSPITAL. The first attends the camp at some convenient distance, and the latter is fixed at one place. In the choice of both Dr. Pringle thinks it better to have them in towns than villages, as the former will afford larger wards, besides more of other conveniencies. These wards should be as airy as possible.

Regimental-HOSPITALS, are frequently in barns, stables, granaries, and other outhouses; but above all, churches make the best hospitals from the beginning of June to October; these hospitals are solely for the use of the regiments they belong to.

Every regiment on the British establishment has an hospital for the reception of the sick belonging to it. This hospital is under the immediate care of the regimental surgeon, who is subordinate to the general medical board.

Officers commanding brigades are enjoined frequently to visit the hospitals of the regiments composing their brigades, and minutely to investigate the economy and order therein established; to enquire into the state of the patients, their diet, and attendance of every kind, and to enforce the strictest observance of the hospital regulations.

These attentions are required still more in detail, from commanding officers of regiments, who from personal observation have opportunities of checking every abuse, and whose duty it is to extend to the hospitals the same system of order, regularity, and discipline, which should prevail in their regiments.

The captain and subaltern of the day of each regiment are to visit the hospital at different and uncertain hours, to observe the cleanliness of the wards, the regularity of messing and the appearance of the men, who while they are in the hospital, are by no means to be permitted to contract habits of slovenliness in their dress, but are expected to appear perfectly clean in every particular.

Every species of gaming is strictly forbidden. Any patient convicted of swearing, disorderly behaviour, insolent and provoking conduct towards the attendants, or of any deviation from the hospital regulations, will be severely punished.

The captain of the day is to report any irregularities, he may observe, to the commanding officer of the regiment.

The surgeon is to make a daily report of the sick to the commanding officer, who will make a weekly report to the officer commanding the brigade, who will make a general report of the sick of his brigade once a week to head quarters.

Regimental hospitals are under the immediate direction of their respective surgeons, subject to the general instructions and superintendance of the inspector of regimental hospitals, or other professional persons, having authority for that purpose, from the war department, or the commander in chief. It is the duty of the inspector of regimental hospitals, and of such other officers of the medical staff as shall be ordered for that purpose to visit regimental hospitals from time to time; to observe whether the hospital regulations are strictly adhered to, to enquire whether any causes of complaint exist among the patients, and to submit to the generals commanding in districts, such local observations as he conceives may tend to the benefit of the sick.

When a regiment is stationed in a barrack, where no detached building is appropriated for the hospital, or in camp and cantonments, it is the business of the surgeon to procure an airy, and commodious hospital, taking particular care, that it is amply supplied with wholesome water.

In camp, a tent will be allowed, which must be pitched upon the best dry piece of ground in the vicinity of the regimental hospital, to which it is granted as an aid, but must not, except in cases of absolute necessity, be itself considered as the hospital.

The responsibility for the order, regularity, and cleanliness of the regimental hospital, for the diet and care of the patients, and for the general conduct and economy of the whole establishment, rests entirely with the surgeon; but commanding officers are enjoined to furnish such military assistance, as may be necessary for the attainment of those objects, and all non-commissioned officers and others placed in the hospital, in aid of the surgeon, are commanded to yield the most implicit obedience to the instructions they may receive from him, and to enforce in every instance, the most minute observance of the hospital regulations, which are to be fairly written, and fixt on a board in the most conspicuous part of the entrance of the regimental hospital.

The surgeon should be consulted in the selection of the serjeant to be appointed to assist him in the hospital; and it will tend materially to the benefit of the sick, that this non-commissioned officer, and the orderly men acting in the hospital, should be considered as being in a permanent situation, and not liable to be removed except in case of misdemeanor.

A guard is to be constantly furnished to the hospital, and the surgeon must signify to the commanding officer of the regiment, the particular orders which he wishes to be given to the non-commissioned officer commanding it, and to the sentries.

When a soldier comes into the hospital, his arms and accoutrements are to be taken in charge by the non-commissioned officer attending the hospital, but his ammunition is to be left with his troop or company, and is in no instance to be taken with him to the hospital.