Richard Yates to Edwin Stanton

State of Illinois Executive Department Springfield

Augt 29th 1862

Hon. E. M. Stanton Secretary of War

Sir:

I desire to call your attention to a serious difficulty in this State respecting the appointment of Surgeons. The Homeopathic School of Physicians are very numerous and influential. They include many most intelligent and Scientific practitioners, and are patronized by many of the most respectable and worthy class of our fellow citizens. Our Medical Board being composed entirely of Alopathists refuses to examine or pass upon an applicant of the system. Thus many able physicians are turned away and their friends

in and out of the army, disappointed.

I hardly know what suggestion to make in order to remedy this evil. You may have been called upon from other states, and made some provision for such cases, if not, I ask your special consideration of the subject, and early reply.

I am

Copy of 1

Secretary of War

Sept 1/62

Homeopathic M.D.s as Surgeons