Stores sent to the
soldiers were plundered at Balaklava, and sold in the trenches by Turks,
Greeks, Tartars, and rogues of all nations who had followed the army.
Those who had money purchased, and fared comparatively well; the poorer
soldiers hungered and died. The medical regimental officers behaved
nobly; but, generally, they were unwilling to complain of any want of
stores and medicines, as they, by doing so, incurred the resentment
of the medical chiefs, and their promotion was suspended, or prevented
altogether. It became necessary at last to introduce the civil element
into the medical care of the army. Among the efforts put forth to this
end was the establishment of a civil hospital at Smyrna. The government
encouraged various medical men of eminence to abandon their professional
prospects in London and go to the East. These men were regarded
with jealousy by their brethren in the military service, and with
indifference and want of courtesy very frequently by military men in
high official positions, The government which, like preceding ministers,
had in its contracts for the public service obtained such unenviable
notoriety for breach of faith, signalized itself in an especial manner
in violating honour and duty with the medical civil officers. This was
especially seen in the requital of the officers attached to the hospital
at Smyrna. In "Nolan's History of the War against Russia" there is
incorporated an account of the Smyrna hospital, by a very gifted and
learned man,* which is too long for quotation here, but which will
exemplify all that is here stated of an evil so great, and injustice so
flagitious.
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