Answer. Yes, sir; more like derangement than what we call idiocy.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Can those men whose arms you bared and held up to us—mere skeletons, nothing but skin and bone—can those men recover?
Answer. They may; we think that some of them are in an improving condition. But we have to be extremely cautious how we feed them. If we give them a little excess of food under these circumstances they would be almost certain to be seriously and injuriously affected by it.
Question. It is your opinion, you have stated, that these men have been reduced to this condition by want of food?
Answer. It is; want of food and exposure are the original causes. That has produced diarrhœa and other diseases as a natural consequence, and they have aided the original cause and reduced them to their present condition. I should like the country and the government to know the facts about these men; I do not think they can realize it until the facts are made known to them. I think the rebels have determined upon the policy of starving their prisoners, just as much as the murders at Fort Pillow were a part of their policy.
Rev. J. T. Van Burkalow, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your connexion with this hospital?