The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-14 00:00:00

FOOD.

Experience proves that the same amount of ani-
mal food is not required in a hot climate to preserve
health and strength as in a cold one. A large
amount of animal food, instead cif giving strength,
heats the blood, renders the system feverish, and
consequently weakens the whole body.
The Rajputs or Rajputana, and the Sikhs of the
Punjab, are physically as strong as Europeans, and
they are capable of enduring more fatigue, and
withstanding better the vicissitudes of the climate
of India. This is due, partly to the race, but
chiefly to the nature of their food, of which the
staple is wheaten flour, made into chapatis. They
eat but twice a day ; and, although theypartake of
animal food, they do so in very muoh less propor-
tion than is the habit in Europe.
The best food for a soldier is that which the
country freely produces, and which is nutritious
and digestible, and at the same time palatable.
The large quantity of pork indulged in by sol-
diers is most injurious. Pigs are foul feeders ; and
any one, marching one day in the rear of an Euro-
pean regiment, may see the pigs, destined to feed
the men, acting the part of scavengers, and clear-
ing off every imaginable kind of filth. The owners
and drivers of pigs are the lowest class of natives,
who purposely drive their animals over ground
where they may find wherewith to fill themselves.
It can be readily understood that our meat thus
fed must be unwholesome ; and that by indulging
in it the blood becomes gradually poisoned, and
rendered prone to receive any disease.
Hermetically se lied, preserved or salted provi-
sions are noxious, if partaken of for a prolonged
period, or to the exclusion of fresh food.

Bread when tolerably well made is, of course, one
of the best articles of diet. Biscuits are not so di-
gestible, but they have the advantage of being
easily carried, and of being always ready. In the
absence of these, flour (ata) can always be pro-
cured, and chapatis (a thin unleavened cake) are
easily made, are highly nutritious, and are perfectly
dig stible when eaten fresh and hot. When cold
and tough they are unwholesome. Chapatis can be
bakel in any quantity on iron plates made for the
purpose, ar.d every European should learn (which
he can easily do from any native) how to knead
and prepare them. Flour can be got from every
village, and with it no European detachment need
ever be without "the staff of life."

Rice and dal can also be had anywhere. These,
boiled separa•ely, and afterwards mixed together,
make, with the addition of salt and pepper, a whole-
some and nutritious food, well suited fur breakfast.
Beef is the meat usually furnished to regiments.
The lean commissariat kine do not promise much,
but it is difficult to procure other meat in sufficient
quantity. Slow boiling for two hours will make
any m-at tender, and the water in which it is
boiled makes excellent soup. The addition of what-
ever vegetables are to be had, of a few slices of
salted pork or bacon, two or three handfuls of flour,
some onions, and salt, and pepper, makes a savoury
mess. Rice, boiled is a separate vessel, and after-
wards mixed up with the soup, meat, Ltc., adds to
the quantity and quality of the meal, which is
wholesome, nutritious, and palatable.
Mutton and fowls• may occa ionally be had as
a change ; and in the ne'ghbourhcod of large rivers
fish makes an useful variety, and can usually be
had in abundance.

Milk is an invaluable article cf diet, and should
be largely supplied to soldiers.
Vegetal:Owl are essential to the preservation of
health. Opportunities for procuring them in quan-
tity present themselves much oftener on the march
than h generally supposed.
In cold weather inquiry will prove that in the
ne'glibourhood of nearly every halting place there
are fields of cat rots, turn'ps, onions, and of many
native vegetables, such as bygun, sag, &c.
A little m:.nagement on the part of the commis-
sariat agent could obtain these.

Suldieis should be strictly warned never to eat
uncooked or raw vegetables.
Fruit when sound and ripe is beneficial instead
of hurtful. Unripe or over-ripe fruit will produce
disease. The water-melon and guava are, however,

.41 By James Harrison, M.D., Surgeon, Hon. Company's
setvice.

1- Kanats, 'walls of a tent.
4: Water-carrier.