ed through the mellow autumn, were wreathed with laurel
and laid upon their coffins as they were carried into the beautiful
little chapel for the funeral services, before they were laid in the
government cemetery, about a mile from the hospital. It is a lovely
place, with many trees surrounding its gentle slopes; and here thousands
sleep, with their name, rank, company, and regiment inscribed upon
wooden slabs. But "Unknown" is the only sad record on many a headboard.
These were men who died either on transports, or who when brought to us
were too much impaired in mind to remember anything,--for the loss or
derangement of mental faculties was no uncommon occurrence. When the
first cases of starvation were brought under treatment, the doctors
prescribed the lightest diet, mostly rice, soup, and tea. By experiment
it was proved that just as many died in proportion under this care as
when an intense desire for any particular article of food was allowed in
a measure to be satisfied. Almost every man on his arrival would have
his mind concentrated on some one thing: with many, pickles were the
coveted luxury; with others, milk. Often, as I passed through the wards,
one or another would call out, "Lady, do you think there is such a thing
as a piece of Bologna sausage here?" or, "Lady, is there a lemon in this
place? I have been longing for one for months." The first thing that one
man asked for was a cigar. He was very low, but said, "I would like one
sweet smoke before I die." He finished his cigar only a few moments
before he breathed his last.

The gratification of an insane craving for food cost many a poor fellow
his life. One morning a man who had just come received some money from a
friendly comrade; going in to the sutler's, he bought a quart of dried
apples. After eating them he became quite thirsty, and drank an alarming
quantity of cold water. It is needless to say that he died the next day.
At another time a boy received a box from home; his fond mother, with
more kindness than good judgment, sent, with other things, a mince-pie,
which delighted him, and he was greatly disappointed in not being
allowed to taste it. Though warned of the danger, when the nurse left
him for a few moments to bring him some beef-tea, he got at the pie, ate
half of it, and when the nurse returned was lying dead. Perhaps his
death was not caused, but only hastened, by this. It was impossible
always to guard against such imprudences.

On