Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/231

SUFFERINGS OF THE AltMIES. 187 spacious, or aptly equipped for the purpose ; and, CHAP. although they had only to traverse a distance L_ of some 300 miles, the privations and hardships they endured whilst making the passage proved often such a cruel addition to their original sufferings that, during the months of December and January respectively, they died, and were thrown overboard in the proportions of, first, 85, and then 90, for every thousand. (^^) Each survivor, wdien landed, encountered de- ourhospi- . . tals in the lays on the beach which too often proved long Levant. and cruel ; yet, if brought up at last — still alive — to the entrance of one of our Levantine hospi- tals, the patient might venture to trust that he had reached the end of those sufferings which human aid could avert ; but, unhappily, all such fond conjectures were destined to be turned to naught by the paramount defaults before indi- cated — by defaults at the seat of Government, which left the whole task of both organising and maintaining these complex establishments to either no one at all, or else to men only half armed with the kind of authority needed. From the causes already assigned, it resulted that (apart from those evils which engineers only could meet) the internal administration of our Levantine hospitals was cursed by several hein- ous defects^ — by frightful overcrowding, by want of due ventilation, by an appalling want of cleanliness, by want of sufficient attendance, by want of hospital comforts, and linally, by want of proper food, rightly cooked and supplied at ris:ht times.