. §. Williams, October 3, 1861

October 3, 1861.

No. 20. : Washington, October 3, 1861.

The following regulations respecting the duties of brigade surgeons are published for the government of all concerned :

I. The brigade surgeons will frequently inspect the police, cooking, clothing, and cleanliness of the camps and men in their respective bri- -gades; the position and condition of the sinks, the drainage of the camp . grounds, the ventilation of the tents, &c.; making written reports to the brigade commanders whenever, in their opinion, any errors in these respects require correction, and sending duplicates of these reports to

. the medical director of the army. y

II. They will see that the medicines, hospital stores, instruments, and dressings of the several regimental surgeons are kept constantly sufficient in quantity in good order, and always ready for active service.

TIL They will collect from the several regimental surgeons and transmit every Saturday morning to the medical director a copy of their

morning report made to the commanding officer of their regiment, and will accompany these With remarks showing the character of the principal diseases prevailing. ;

IV. They will promptly report to the medical director all changes in station or location of themselves or of any of the medical officers in their brigades, with the number, date, and authority of the order by which such changes were made. Se :

V. They will inspeet carefuily all men receiving certificates of dis_ ability for discharge, and if they approve, they will countersign such certificates, 94 OPERATIONS IN MD., N. VA, AND W. VA. (Cuar. XIV.

VI. The hospital attendants, to the number of 10 men to a regiment,

and the regimental bands, will be assembled under the supervision of the brigade surgeons, and will be drilled one hour each day, except Sunday, by the regimental medical officers, in setting up and dismantling the hand-stretchers, litters, and ambulances ; in handling men carefully ; placing them upon the litters and ambulance beds; putting them into the ambulances, taking them out, &e.; carrying men upon the handstretchers (observing that the leading bearer steps off with the left foot and the rear bearer with the right); in short, in everything that ean render this service effective and the most comfortable for the wounded who are to be transported.

VII. Brigade surgeons will see that the orders of the commanding

general in relation to the uses to which ambulances are to be applied —

are strictly obeyed, and they will report promptly to the brigade commanders all infractions of these orders. VIII. Whenever a skirmish or affair of outposts occurs in which any

portion of their brigades is engaged, they will see that the ambulances.

and stretchers, properly manned with the drilled men, are in immediate

attendance to bring off the wounded, and that the regimental medical . officers are at their posts, with their instruments, dressings, and hospital:

knapsacks in complete order and ready for immediate use, so that no delay may occur in rendering the necessary surgical aid to the wounded.

IX. They will report in writing to the medical director, within twentyfour hours after any affair with the enemy, the name, rank, and regiment of each of the wounded, the nature and situation of the wound, and the surgical means adopted in the case. — – s

X. Brigade surgeons will be held responsible that the hospital service in their brigades is kept constantly effective and in readiness for A ee No remissness in this respect will be tolerated or overooked. ;

By command of Major-General McClellan: ES

. §. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
NoTE.—The medical director desires that exsection of the shoulder
and elbow joint shall be resorted to in preference to amputation in all
cases offering a reasonable hope of success, and that Pirigoff’s operation
at the ankle should be preferred to Chopart’s or to amputation above
the ankle, in cases that might admit of a choice.
[Appendix B.]-