Marrow of Tragedy 4-6

The first chapter of this section focused on the start of the USSC and the new "efficiency, organization, and expertise" it provided for medical care. What I found rather funny is the USSC is essentially just a strict 'mother' that was missing from essentially a frat house of young men. Details like "cleaning undergarments once a week" and going to the bathroom only in dedicated ditches seem like basic behaviors expected from men, but I guess if there is no 'mother' to nag and remind you it doesn't happen. Things like clean sheets were cleaned by 'mother', balanced meals were cleaned by 'mother', and disapproving behaviors with alcohol and stealing were not tolerated by 'mother'. Like last week, it was difficult to read how little details that were not thought out before war hospitals came about could have made life so less miserable then it was. Things like scurvy plaguing troops because they forgot to ensure that citrus fruits could reach the men before it set in. Especially now, it is hard to think of a medical system that wasn't sterile or safe, or even have an ambulance system to transport you comfortably. I also found it interesting how much distrust there was in a health system for the public with concerns about corruption, rights, and dependability. Because we still today have the same issues but with healthcare. Maybe it's American tradition to not want help out of some fear that we'll one day not be able to support ourselves.   I was very impressed by the first hospitals of Philly. Since the trial and error had already been done in homes for centuries, and practice in the military hospitals, the description of the logistics of a hospital were amazing for it to be so early on.