Clift's Notes

Posted By Doctor Clift on September 5, 2009

Perhaps its been the recent exertions of the men, or the rumors that the French are on the move again, but Fort Cumberland has been bustling since we returned from Fort Frederick earlier this week.  The days have passed so quickly, that I have not even had a few minutes of leisure time to sit and update my notes on my travels with the forces.  Tending to the wounded and sick from the trip back, as well as those who took ill during my absence has been my priority, and thanks to the change in the weather here, it seems as if the humors have taken to moving improperly in many of the men.  However, today things are calmer, as most of my patients are at rest presently, and again the Matron has taken good care with her ministrations to give me leave to enjoy my afternoon in peace.

Events at Fort Frederick were much busier than anticipated.  It turned out that the rumors of French soldiers in the wood was most accurate, and a small unit of our men met them and some savage raiders in the woods due west of the fort’s walls while on patrol.  The skirmish was short lived, but not without casualty and injury. I dare say some of the French soldiers are quite good shots, and took out several of our men during the fray.  I was able to spare a few, with one amputation, one bullet extraction, and the setting of one broken bone where a man tripped over a log when they gave chase to the retreating foes. The bullet extraction and amputation did stay behind under the ministrations of the good midwife at the Fort until they are much more resolved in constitution, and she sends correspondence regularly on their status.  I shall return there again in a week or so’s time with the ranging unit to check on their status and see to anyone else there at the time.  Most of the farmers have returned to their fields as the Indians will not come close again to raid for some time, and it is getting close to the harvest season for them.

One afternoon while there, I myself came down with a bit of the melancholy, with a mild fever and some tiredness that was unbecoming of me, so I did take a brief respite from my duties to bleed myself and rest.  I only bled about 4 ounces, but it seemed to be enough to bring me back into better humours.

Bleeding, I truly believe, is the greatest cure for almost all illnesses, even as I prescribe the apothecaries medications, and ply Boils upon the men.  It seems to resolve most minor melancholies faster than anything else I could offer them, and in many cases of a more serious nature, it does assist greatly the medication prescribed.  It is truly amazing to me how easy the humours do become even the slightest bit off, and require this process, as out of a hundred men, I will see about 40-50 per day for the process.  I should write to Charlotte and have her send to me a new set of lancets to augment my old pair.  They are starting to wear, which makes it hard to cut the skin open appropriately to retrieve the necessary amount of blood.  I dare say, I have often thought of even using my shaving razor to do so, as it does hone better than these flimsy pieces of steel, but think better of it because of that very sharpness.  I would not do well should I bleed someone to death!

A Mrs. Riley, one of the farmer’s women with a fairly sizable garden saw fit to augment my meager supplies of herbs this trip to the fort as well with additional supplies of wormwood, feverfew, and chamomile, which will be of most use here.  I have hung them up in the hospital to continue keeping them in a dry and clean state, to pull from when necessary, and have added them to the records of my medicinal stores.  I have heard that some doctors have been recently accused of stealing from their own stores and accusing others, and I dare say I do not want to be one of those to be accused.  i must be diligent in my recordkeeping, lest I find myself accused of such impropriety.
As quickly as it has begun, my leisure time has surely left for now, and I must attend to tending to the shaving of the men this day.

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