Newspapers / The Caduceus (Charlotte, N.C.) / Nov. 23, 1918, edition 1 / Page 7
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SUNSHINE LETTERS SHOW ABLE EFFORTS OF THE MEDICS. (Special to The Caduceus.) Washington, Nov. 21.—Concrete ev idence reaches the Office ’of the Sur- • geon General every day in the farm of “Sunshine Letters,” proving that the Army Medical Department has cap tured the confidence and trust not only of the men in the camps here and overseas, but of the civilian pop ulation as well. A medical officer with a happy fac ulty of coining phrases hit upon the term “Sunshine Letter"’ to describe coyimunicationos to the Surgeon Gen eral and the commanding officers of army hospitals, from gratified parents whose boys were under treatment. “Sunshine Letters” make good read ing. They come from no particular class or locality. Sometimes they are written on fine linen stationery, but often on the grayish white sort with blue ruled lines that you buy for a penny a sheet at the corner store. They are not always happy letters, for on accosion the writer is a saddened mother or father whose John, or Joe, or Ben has “gone West” as a result of sickness or injuries. But they are all letters from which radiates a spir it of trust and gratitude. An account of the Army Medical Department, when it comes to be writ ten after this war, will show an as cending arc of confidence both in and out of the military establishment. This is all the more remarkable when it is taken into consideration with what rapidity the department was expanded from a few thousand officers to thirty- eight thousand on active service to day, and from a scattered enlisted per sonnel to more than two hundred thousand; and also when it is remem bered that a physician, no matter how learned, can be converted Into a med ical officer, only after considerable training and frequently a decided re adjustment of methods. Prom the very first, however, the department had the advantage of working with a specimen of the finest and keeaiest human material in the world—the American doctor. Follows a "Sunshine Letter” from an old colored man, Ned Satterfield, tending to prove that neither race nor color, creed nor prejudice, stand as THE CADUCEUS a barrier to the Army edical Depart ment; “Berea, N. C., Oct. 29, 1918. “U. S. Army Base Hospital, “Camp Greene, N. C. “Dear Sir; “I am writing to express my grati tude to you all for the hospitality and kindness which I received at your hanad while visiting,my son which is sick in your hospital, also I want to express my gratitude for your kind ness and tender care in which you are turning towards my sick son that is in your care. I am satisfied from what my eyes have seen that he hasn’t suffered for anything, also 1 am frank to eay that he is receiving bet ter care at your hands than I would be able to give him at home. Again thanking you for your kind treatment and warm welcome which made me feel at home the time I was at his sick bed. Please write me at once and Inform me how he is getting on, I wait your early reply. “I beg to remain your friend, “Ned Satterfield.” Here is another “Sunshine Letter.” It shows how the one time popular misconception, that at Army hospitals, the patient was not given the very best of care and attention which Med ical science affords, has /been con troverted by the knowledge that the care there in the majority of instances it away and above that which could have been afforded a soldier at his own home. The letter follows in part: “It is with more gratitude than I can express that I write you this let ter. I want you to know how much I appreciate the skillrul medical at tention and careful nursing given my son at the Base Hospital at Camp Meade. My son had pneumonia and was dangerously.ill; so ill, that I be lieve if it had not been for the very intelligent medical treatment and the tireless nursing whicff he received, that he would not have recovered. “I visited the hospital daily for one week and I had ample opportunity to obseerve eveerything that was going on. At the end of the week I came away with the firm belief that the lads in the hospital under your command were receiving better medical treat ment and better nursing than most of them would receive in civil life. Each lad, regardless of his color and regardless of his station in life, re ceives the same care and attention. and that care and attention is mucn better than that to be found in many city hospitals. “With heartfelt gratitude to your- selef anda to the officers on the staff anad nurses who contributed towards my boy’s recovery and who gave so much kindness and sympathy to me, I beg to remain, “Yours very sincerely, “Chas. W. Bonner, “Blythe& Bonnerj Foreign Exchange., “New York, March 19, 1918.” The Surgeon General himself not long ago received a “Sunsiiine Let ter” from a Rochester man, W. M. Brown, who was caalled to the sick bed of his soldier son at the Base Hospital, at Camp Zachary Taylor, This letter speaks for itself. There follows parts of it: “I have recently had the opportun ity an adthe honor to spend a week in the Base Hospital at Camp Zachary Taylor where I was called to the bed side of my son. While I was there I was invited by Col. Pyles to assist in the emeergency which 1 was very glad to do. “At this time I wish to convey to you my very deep appreciation of the kindness and courtesy that was shown me in my pe:sonal matters, and I also wish to express my unbounded adini- rafion for the efficiency and humanity that I obseerved on the part of every one connected with the hospital.” MORE OFFICERS. The following second lieutenants ar rived at Camp Greene from Camp Gor don, last Saturday and have reported at camp headquarters for duty: William Pearson, H. A. Flagge, Guy T. Reid, C. F. Fulton, August Mevies, R. M. Dunwoody,, Werner W. Moore, J. B. Weidner, C. A. Wilson, .1. V. Hueit, R. L. Brinkley, Atles Schlentz, Theo. E. Irmscher, J. S. Street, R. I. Klfer, Richard Parnell, W H. Klein, H. T. Jones, R. W. Younger, C. P. Bishop, William Smith, C. M. Sutton, E. B. Baxter, R. W. Lewis, C. R. Lane, J. N. Hearn, C. A. Lovelett, C. V. Nichols, G. H. MacDowell, C. R. Shorp, Clarence Castle, J. E. What ley, C. M. Steikell, L. E. Zellner, A. A. McNeil, C. M. Uphorse, D. J. Ferguson, Lawrence Charrots, W. L, Love, C. D, Mack, H. S. Howard, C. F. Darr, E. T. Morris. M Toomey iPlumbing and Heating Company INCOKPOltATEn Expert Sanitary and Heating Engineers Office and Salesrooms: 208 South Tryon Sf. Illlllillllllllllll CIIARI.OTTK, N. C. '
The Caduceus (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 23, 1918, edition 1
7
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