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War Department, 
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, December 5, 1866

General,
I am directed by the commissioner to request that your will direct your Surgeon in Chief to make a thorough Inspection of all the Hospitals and Stations where Medical attendance is furnished by the Bureau, with a view to ascertain personally what are the wants or necessities of the various settlements in reference to Medical attendance; what portion can and ought to be furnished by the public authorities; what by the people themselves, and how far the Bureau should perform a review of this kind. Also to report as to the efficiency of those already employed by the Bureau as physicians and Surgeons, and to recommend any reductions as to numbers or changes of Station. It is expected that whenever two persons have been hitherto employed, and the ward has so diminished that there is need of one only, a reduction will take place. This applies especially to the practice heretofore perceived, and at present existing in some of the districts of having