Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/94

 in the General Hospital Department, and other officers in the army, showing that the said Director-General did conduct himself ably and faithfully in the discharge of the duties of his office; Therefore,

"Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the conduct of Dr. John Morgan, while acting Director-General and Physician-in-Chief in the General Hospitals of the United States, and that this resolution be published.

"CHARLES THOMSON, "

To the inquirer of the present day, it appears probable that the difficulties which Dr. Morgan had to contend with in his department, arose primarily from the fact, that in the then state of the Colonies it was impossible to obtain adequate subsistence, shelter, supplies, or transportation for the sick and wounded of the army, and were increased by the imperfect system of organization for the Medical Department which was adopted by Congress. "With such a faulty system, it was of course impossible to carry out any plan for the proper treatment of the sick and wounded; and it appears from disputes between himself and other medical officers, concerning rank and precedence, that his office as Director-General and Chief Physician was far from giving him that degree of authority requisite to a successful administration of the affairs