By J. Julian Chisholm, M.D.  Published by Evans & Cogswell, Columbia, S.C., 1864. 3^rd Edition — “Carefully Revised and Improved.” Owner inscription, in ink, in front eps. 529 pp., 26 plates. (re-bound leather spine, facsimile plates 25 & 26). In brown blind-stamped buckram, 5.25 x 7.5”. with gilt spine lettering. Cover boards exhibit wear and rubbing at the outer corners. Text is yellowed throughout, with slight water staining at the outer edge, while remaining entirely legible. Else VG with tight spine & page signatures. Extremely scarce in any condition. Solidly ID’d. Accompanied by internet research.

Dr. Paul DeLacey Baker, brother of Confederate General Alpheus Baker, was born in 1828 in South Carolina. Practiced medicine in Eufaula, AL prior to the Civil War. Served as Surgeon-in-Charge of the Second Alabama Hospital dating to May 1862.  In July 1862 the 2^nd & 3^rd Alabama hospitals were converted into one hospital known as The Alabama Hospital with the 3^rd constituting the 1^st Division and the 2^nd constituting the 2^nd Division. In October 1863 he was granted a 60 day leave of absence due to debilitating asthma. He returned from leave on 12/18/63 to the Alabama Hospital. On 1/2/64 he was relieved from that duty and was reassigned to the Eufaula, AL hospital, where he was Surgeon-in-charge through the end of the war.  When he arrived there, the hospital had but 36 beds and was in a disorganized state. He wrote in July 1864 that, “between 200 and 300 wounded men” who had not eaten for several days arrived at one time; he had no place for them and had to lay them on the floors of houses whose occupants allowed him the use of their space. He had “no pans, no tubs, no spittoons, no medicines, no nurses, no ward masters, no adequate medical assistance, no hospital clothing….” Despite receiving some supplies from the locals, the Eufaula hospitals remained unpleasant and undersupplied throughout the height of their operations in 1864.

Dr. Baker returned to his private practice in Eufaula following the war; in 1881 he became president of the Barbour County, AL Medical Society and in 1883 was named Barbour County Health Officer. Dr. Baker died at his residence in Eufaula on 7/5/83. He is buried Fairview Cemetery in Eufaula. Additional information on his service and a photo of his headstone may be found here.    [ld/jp]

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