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

General

I am instructed by the Commissioner to request that you 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 within the limits of your District, 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 service of this kind:  Also to report as to the efficiency of those already employed by the Bureau, as physicians & Surgeons, and to recommend any reduction as to number or changes of Station   It is expected that whenever two persons have hitherto been 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 pursued and at present existing in some of the Districts, of having Medical Officers detailed as assistants to the Surgeon in Chief of Districts, and to