MEDICAL  INSPECTOR'S  DEPARTMENT.
THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR'S DEPxYRTMENT  IS COMPOSED OF THE
            FOLLOWING GRADES  OF  OFFICERS :

1. A Medieal Inspector General, with the rank of Colonel.

2. Medical Inspector, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
        DUTIES  OF THE  INSPECTOR GENERAL.

  1. The Medical Inspector General is stationed at the seat
of government, and is under the direction of the  Surgeon
General, charged with the supervision of all that relates to
the Sanitary condition of the army, whether in'transports,
quarters or camps, and of the hygiene, police, discipline and
efficiency of the field and general hospital.
  2. He will detail the Medical Inspectors for assignment to
duty in  military districts and departments, subject to appro-
val by the Surgeori General and Secretary of War; will is-
sue direct to them all orders and instructions relating to their
official duties and will himself make such special inspections
or tours of inspection as the Surgeon General may direct.
  3. He shall make, to the Surgeon General, annual report
of the concerns and operations of the Medical  Inspectors
Department, and from time to time, such special reports as
may be ■ necessary; with his suggestions and recommenda-
tions for improving the sanitary and hygienic condition of
troops, camps., transports and hospitals for the comfort and
recovery of the sick and wounded, and for the good of the
public service.
  4. He will institute such  examinations into the profession-
al, moral and physical qualifications of medical  officers  as
may seem to him necessary, or he may be directed to make
by the Surgeon General. 
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        DUTIES  OF  THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.

   1. Medical  Inspectors are charged  with the duties of in-
 specting the  sauitary and  hygienic  condition ' of  troops,
 camps, transports, barracks, quarters  and hospitals, and in-
 quiring into and reporting upon the skill, efficiency and con-
 duct of officers and attendants connected with the  Medical
 Department.
   2. Medical  Inspectors will make special inspections and
 tours of inspection throughout their respective district or de-
 partments at such times as the,Inspector General may.direct.
   3. Inspections shall be made in conformity with  the fol-
 lowing instructions.
   4. The Inspecting Medical officer is required to see that all
 regulations for protecting tlie health 61 troops in barracks,
 camps and transports; forsecnring the sanitary CDndition of
 hospitals, and for the, careful treatment and attendance on
 sick and wounded are duly observed.             >
   5. He is to examine the medical, sanitary, statistical prop-
 erty and military records of hospitals and regiments  to see
 whether  they have been properly kept, and that the reports
 and returns required by regulations have been regularly for-
 warded to the Surgeon General.
   6. He  is to ascertain from  them the amount of disease and
 mortality among the troops, especially from pulmonary dis-
 eases and from diseases of the zymotic class^ such as eholera,
 fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, scorbutus,  etc.
   7. He  is to  inquire into the causes  of such diseases and
 into the  steps taken for their prevention or mitigation.
   8. He  is to advise with the Medical officers on any  measv
 ures for the mitigation or prevention of disease that may be
 required; ar^d he is to recommend to him, in writing, any
additional precautions tjkat he may consider requisite.
   9. He  is to  examine into the sanitary condition of quar-
ters, barracks, guard-room, prison,  cells, and of all buildings
and rooms used and occupied by troops.                        <
   10.  As to their cleanliness within and without; their ven-
tilation, warming and lighting.
   11. He is to ascertain whether the number of men accom- 
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modated in any barrack or guard-room is greater than is com-
patable with the preservation of health.
   12. He is to satisfy  himself that  the  drainage, latines,
urinals, etc., are in a good sanitary condition.
   13. That the rations are good and of proper quantity ; that
the kitchen  utensils are sufficient and in good order ; that the
cooking is well done and sufficiently varied, and that the
meals are regularly and properly served.
   14. That  the lavations and baths are ample for the num-
ber of men, and that the baths are sufficiently used.
   15. That  games and gymnastic exercises are so conducted
as to contribute to the health of the troops and prevent injury.
   16. That  the supply of water is abundant and good;  that
the wells are properly covered, and that there is no soakage
from cesspools, drains, etc., into them.
   17. He is to examine into any sources of local  malaria in
the vicinity of garrison, station, barracks, camp or hospital,
with a view to recommending suitable precautionary meas-
ures in regard to them.
   18. He is to satisfy himself that the drainage, ventilation,
cleanliness,  water supply,  water closets, latines, urinals and
sinks of every hospital are  in good condition, and that the
means of warming and  lighting every hospital are sufficient.
   19. He should satisfy himself that the excreta of the sick
are promptly removed from  the wards.
   20. That  the sick have suitable means of cleanliness, and
that the baths and lavations connected with the hospital are
sufficient and in good condition.
   21. That the vicinity of the hospital is in a good sanitary
condition.
   22. Also, as to the cleanliness and sufficiency of bedding,
linen, ward  furniture and utensils.
   23. As to the sufficiency of the kitchen arrangements and
utensils.
   24. As to the quality, quantity, and cooking of the diets.
   25. That the diet tables are in accordance with regulations
and properly hung up in the wards.
   26. That the medical attendance and nursing of the sick
are efficient. 
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  27. He should  ascertain whether there has been any un-
usual amount of disease or mortality originating within the
hospital, and if so its cause.                        i  .
  28. Whether erysipelas, hospital gangrene, fever, dysen-
tery, cholera,  or any other epidemic disease, has shown it-
self in the hospital among the sick or attendants;  whether
wounds heal easily and cases of disease recover rapidly ; he
should endeavor  to trace  to its cause any epidemic:disease
that may exist, and in consultation with the Medical officers
in charge,  to decide upon  the means of preventing or miti-
gating such disease.
  29. He should  satisfy himself as to the state of  the Sur-
gery, the quality and supply of medicines and medical com-
forts, and,the means of preparing and dispensing medicines.
  30. As to  the  condition and  sufficiency  of the surgical
equipments and instruments.
  31. As to the state of hospital stores.
  32. As to state of repair of the hospital.
  33. As to the state of discipline of the hospital and wheth-
er due order and quiet are observed; and the orders of the
Medical officers properly attended/ to.                      >
  34. He should jsee that the convalescent  Wards  are kept
clean and properly ventilated; that the attendants ate  faith.-:
ful and competent;  that djieits. are of good  quality and in
sufficient quantity.
  35. He should listen to  all complaints or dispute* in the
Medical Department, and  endeavor to arrange thend so that
the service may not suffer.
  36. He is to inspect the operating-rooms, dead-rooms, jlost
mortera-rooms, to see that  they are suitably provided  with
tables and other appliances and.are clean, weU supplied with
water, well ventilated and warmed if necessary.
  37. He is to inquire as to the arrangeimenits for the burial
of the dead, and whether  they are  sufficient to  prevent in-
jury to health and whether they are, properly attended to.
  38. To prevent loss of time, the Inspecting officer Ishoald
give any advice in  writing, on  the spot that may.-appear
requisite, or any matter included under these instructions,
to the Commanding officer and Medical  officer of. tU&difcegp- ; 
0
  meat or corps, and as soon as his inspection is completed he
  should report in detail to the Inspector General, stating 'fully
  all defects in the medical, sanitary and statistidd^'/fiepart-
  menis of the service, the recommenttaStloris' htelf^ msrae ^ith
  the  result of the same, with  any 8i^efttefe*¥d*'}|^&ve-
  ment that may occur to him.      in ' '' f '^li'ionl^L ♦'  •
    39. Medical Inspectors  may also be ordered on special
  duty as principal Medical officer of large armies, Or Oh Other
  important professional duty.  *;l«   *  ,1'-<
    40. In  the inspection of camp* and^elJ'BospitaW' ne-will
  note the situation of the sfcme rettv#«<^8%ppr«§ of water
  and. fuel,   nb                ;*'J> ' '-licuso.f    ot;«
    41. He will observe the  character oT the soil,' whether it is
  tenacious and cloggy, or open and of easy drainage;  ^ y
    42. Whether the surrounding country irk mountainous and
  hilly and the immediate  locality with a  surface drainage
  naturally, or level and difficult to  be relieved from the natu-
  ral fall of water, either in  snow or rain.
    43. He will note,'also, the prevailing winds, and also, lo-
  cal currents caused by neighboring hills and mountains.
    44.  He will also observe whether the vicinage is subject
  to malaria  from  marshes  and  rivers, and any other local
  cause of  disease.
    45.  lie will o! serve the  police of the camps and hospitals.
    46. Whether the tents are too crowded.
    47. Whether they are struck and pitched on new ground
  as often as  necessary to health.
    48. Whether they are of good quality and good kind, and
  sufficient in number to protect the men.
    49.  Whether there is sufficient attention to the construc-
  tion of sinks and cesspools, and to the proper filling and
  care of the same, and to removal  of offal and trash from the
  limits of the camp, etc.
    50. Whether the camping ground has been occupied  be-
' fore, and if so how recently.
    51.  He will also examine into  the cooking arrangements
  for both regiments and  hospitals.
    52. Whether the officers are  diligent in inspecting  the
  food cooked by the men, to see that it is sufficiently well done. 
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  53. Whether any efforti is made on the part of officers to
provide portable ovens for the purpose of giving fresh bread
to the soldiers.
  54. Whether they make adequate provision for a com-
plete supply of fresh vegetables as circumstances will admit.
  55. Whether the men are dirty and slovenly in their dress
and  person, and whether the officers are diligent  in enforc-
ing: the discipline necessary to obviate such evils.
  56. He will observe the state of clothing of the men.
  57. He will ascertain the number of hospital tents to each
regiment, also the state of transportation for sick and wound-
ed men, also for hospital stores, and  whether the  accommo-
dations are sufficient for the wants of the sick in the particu-
lar circumstances then and there existing.
 r, 58. He will inquire if the Kegimental Medical officers are
present with their corps, if not, the cause of absence. 
 
      DEPARTMENT  OF THE SOUTH.


  Important Orders Issued by Gen. Hunter
       HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
            Hilton Head, Port Rotal, S. C,
                                AprU 7. 1862.
  •General Orders, No.  5.-^1.  The Major-General
 Commanding, desires  to  call  the  attention of all
 officers and men in this Department to the paramount
 necessity of observing rules  for the preservation  of
 health- during the xi arm months .upon which we have
 now entered.  There is less to be apprehended from
 battle than disease ; the records of all campaigns In
 climates such as this showing many more victims  to
 the neglect of sanitary precautions than to the skill,
 endurance or courago of the enemy.  With proper
 care exercised,  and certain simple rules of hygiene
 observed, the hardy soldiers of the Union, inured  to
 toil and fortified  by habits of industry, temperance
 and cleanliness, have nothing to  fear from-the cli-
 mate of the Department in which it is their privilege
 to serve.
   During our war with Mexico, the soldiers of New-
 Eagland, the Northwestern and Middle  States, and
 the adopted citizens serving in our army, suffered far
 less from the  diseases incident to a semi-tropical cli-
 mate, than did the soldiers from the  States embraced
 in this Department.  Though  not  so well accus-
 tomed to  excessive heat, their physical energies had
 been more fully developed by habits of steady indus-
 try, and th-Ir constitutions presented greater natural
 obstacles to the inroads of malaria.  Anxious that the
 men of his command may be preserved in the full en-
 joyment of health to the service of the Union^and that
 only those who  can leave behind them  the proud epi-
 taph of having fallen on the battle-field, in defence of
 their country, shall fail to return to their homes and
 avocations on the termination of this unholy rebellion,
 the Major-General Commanding, in conformity witn
 the excellent advice of Surgeon Geo. E. Cooper,  U.
 S. A., Medical Director of the Department, hereby es-
 tablishes the following rules for the sanitary govern-
 ment of all the troops at present serving, or hereafter
 to serve in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida j and
 he will hold all officers, having the  charge of camps
 or posts, to a strict responsibility for  their enforce-
 ment.
   II. Cave wltl  be taken in.the selection  of camping-
i.^Qur^4Mai^P^^nj?i«h-J&»' po*%&l^M**^«Hfefc-©i
 mafartous morasses or swamps; and trie teirTs, m so
 far as pracilcaMej are to be faced to  the south. Each'
 camp will T&e.thoroughly policed twice each  day,
 morning and everting, and all ga>!.■>■%a  o  refuse mat-
 ter will be collected and buried m the sinks.
   III..Each tent n.'l be screened or cpv-ered at the
 top andjhalf way  down  the  sides with an arbor of
 brusjivjood or palm kuvis, ami shall be floored, when-
 ever lumber  can be  p.oeiiud,  r.i  an elevation  of
 about three inches ''< c m i he ground.  When this can-
 not be done, carh soldier'will ha.e a bunk raised
 eighteen inches from the  ground, on sido-poles,  sup-
 ported by forked stick-   Ali Quart 'n,,ai-ters, to the
 extent of their ability,  will  fun.uh  ban el staves, to
 be placed &cro?i these  side-poles, arid  will issue the
 necessary lumber on receipt of proper requisitions.
   IV. Tents will be struck at least three times each
 week, and every article  of  bedding  and  clothing
 takan out and  aired j the flooring  and bunks to be
 thoroughly cleaned before  the tents are reelected.
 On the days in which  the  tents are not  struck, the
 sides will be raised, and kept  raised, for the purpose
 of yentilation ; and during the nights free ventilation
 will be secured  by  having the centre-seam in rear of
 the tent opened for the space of two feet, and kept
 open by the insertion of a forked  stick.  An officer of
 each  company  will inspect  the  tents of his men
 nightly, except during stormy, weather, to see that
 this important provision is carried out.
  V. Sinks of the proper size, screened with brut*
wood or  palmetto branches, 6hall be sunk at suitable,
distances on different sides of each  camp;  and tht
bottoms of these will be covered each morning wittt a
layer of  sand or clay, about a foot thick.  It will pe I
the duty of the"camp-police to see that only the sinks
on the lee side of the camp are used.
  VI. Fresh meat is to be issued as often as practica-
ble,  and commanding officers, while near  the sea-
coast or any pieces of  water in which fish  exist,
should encourage suclrof their men as are  off duty,
or not otherwise employed, to fish during the cool
hours of  the morning and evening,—not later than  9
o'eiock  in the morning,  and  not  earlier  than  6
o'clock in the evening.  In a scarcity of fresh meat,
those troops in the most exDosed ana unhealthy situa-
tions are to be thefirst served—forinstance, the troops
stationed in the batteries on the Savannah  River ; and
to all troops so placed, a large share of  vegetables,
in addition to the ordinary rations, should be sent.
  VII. Vegetables, fresh or preserved, must be issued
frequently to all the troops, and an extra issue of coffee
furnished to the men on guard during the night, just pre-
Aious to  their being marched to their respective sta-
tions. The Chief Commissary of the Department will
pee that the estimates  and requisitions necessary to
fulfill these requirements are forwarded to the Com-
missary-General without delay,  and  will report to
these ne 'dg\ .ai iers the failure of any Brigade or Reg-
imental Conuaissaries to make due requisition for the
supplies of Liie troops under their charge,in conform-
ity with ihticnru of thisorder.
  VIII. Ueakfist will be ready for the men as soon
as they leave their tents, which must not  be till after
sunrise.  Ea opt  when  immediately  in  face of the
enemy, or when especially ordered  by the command-
ing officer, reveille will not be sounded until half an
hour after sunrise, by which time the sun's heat will
have absorbed-the miasma of the night-dews.   All the
men will be furnished with straw hats,  and will be
required to bafhe0or wash themselves thoroughly at
least twice each week, and change  their undercloth-
ing once a week, or oftener, if practicable; The hair
and beard will be kept closely trimmed,  and sentry-
boxes of lumber or  small shade arbors of  brushwood
will be erected at all points where sentries are per-
manently stationed.  All soldiers on  night picket or
sentry  duty will be  provided  with  India-rubber
ponchos.
  IX. The propeit>cooking of provisions is  a matter of
great importance, more especially in this climate, but
has not yet received from a majority of the officers in
our volunteer  service that attention which is paid to
it in the regular army of the United States, and by the
armies of Europe.   Hereafter an officer of each com-
pany will be detailed to superintend  the  cooking of
provisions, taking care that all food prepared for the
soldiers is sufficiently cooked, and that the meats are
boiled or roasted, and not fried.  With a little care
bestowed  on this point, and the advantages to both
health and comfort of good cooking explained to the
men, much good may be effected.
  X. All soldiers on  duty in districts especially mala-
rious, or  on unavoidable fatigue duty during the hot
hours of  the day, should be given quinine in prophy-
lactic doses, each dose combined with  half  a  gill of
whisky each night  and  morning.  The certificate of
Regimental  Surgeons will be requisite to cover such
issues.   /
  XI. Officers of the Medical Staff will«ee  that the
provisions of this order are complied with,  and will
promptly report any failure or neglect to the senior
officers of the commands  they are serving with, and
to the Medical Director of this Department.
       By command of Major-Gen. D. HUNTER.
  Chas. G. Halpine, Assist. Adj.-General.