Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].

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Title
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].
Author
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication
New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press
1953.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5
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"Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 22, 2025.

Pages

Annotation

[1]   AES, DLC-RTL. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter from Salmon P. Chase, September 28, asking that a ward in the Capitol Hospital be assigned to Dr. S. W. Forsha to treat wounded soldiers with his ``Balm.'' Dr. Forsha had been denied access to a wounded soldier who wished to try his remedy. Apparently the surgeon general did not act, for on December 17, Attorney General Bates endorsed a note from Forsha with the comment that ``it is evident that Dr. Forsha is not much of a scholar. But he certainly has great curative powers; and really works wonders in relieving pain and healing wounds.'' Forsha's letter reads as follows: ``If the President will give me the charge of a hospital or a ward in one to use my owne medisen in and up on the wounded Soldiers for three Months I will insure ninety percent of all the flesh wounds to be well and the Soldiers to be in a healthy condition and fit for duty within thirty days from the time I take them if I can have them within 8 or 10 days from

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the time they are wounded and I will only ask the same assistance that the other Surgeons are allowed. The Soldiers will not suffer the twentieth part as much as they do in the other hospitals and their general health shall not be impared from the Effects of the wounds.'' (DLC-RTL). A letter from Hammond to Lincoln, February 13, 1863, in reply to a communication from the president which has not been located, specified that ``I have met with Dr. Forsha before, and am satisfied that he is an ignorant quack.'' (Ibid.).

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