The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-06-22
HINTs re YOUNG soLDIRRs.

ga young trooper needs an old horse,
says the proverb. The greater part of our
volunteers are entering upon an untried life
Ia life in which they must rely upon them
selves, individually, and in which their only
guides are common-sense and the expert
ence of others. The first is not as common
as it ought to be, and young men are pro-
verbal for refusing to learn by the other.
Yet there are many who are prudent enough
to borrow light, and to them few hin IS
from one accustomed to camp life may be
valuable. Without apology. they will be
very plain and practical.
Every volunteer who goes from city or
country to field and camp. and from home
fare and regular habits to camp rations and
military discipline, must go through pro-
cess of adaptation, more or less severe,
even under the most favorable circumstan.
ces. In the present case process of ac-
climation must be added. which will make
the change unusually trying. and will re
quire unusual prudence. A new army is
never thrown into camp without mourning
disease, not necessarily severe, but which
may be aggravated by carelessness into
epidemic and chronic forms. Among 9TH
ers, diseases of the bowels are common,
and almost inevitable.
The fret thing the young soldier will
have to contend with is craving appetite
for something, which he is apt to crafty by
stimulant. If he is temperate man he
is likely to drink frequently and profusely
of water. Both are to be resisted and
avoided. The only possible good that spir-
its can do is IN cases of great exhaustion,
and even then their use is of very exception
al utility. A cup of coffee or tea is almost
invariably better. The habit of drinking
spirits in advance of labor, to gain strength,
| is one of the worst in the world. The ac-
ton and reaction of stimulent are equal,
and the greater its strength the shorter its
good effect, and the worse the depression
afterward. If you sOiH drink spirits, never
do it before a march, or action, because the
unnatural energy which il imparts may fail
you at the very moment you need it most.
AS to water, nothing affects the bowels
more certainly than liberal draughts of a
kind to which we are unused. But we
must drink something, you say. Not al
quarter as much as you think. Drinking,
in warm weather especially, is very much
matter of habit. Every one who exerci-
ses self-denial for day or two will find that
he really needs but little, and that, when he
must drink, single draught will do as well
as dozen.
A moderate use of salt rations, and es
pecially of fat meat, will pay on the score
of health, beyond calculation. Although
there are occasions when a soldier's meals
are necessarily irregular, it is a very favor
able circumstance that, in camp, rations
are usually served with perfect uniformity
as to time. Every soldier should take all
the time he can to eat, and be careful about
indulging his appetite between meals, when
| i hoe ho will g.
used delicacies. In case of bowel COM
plants. if circumstances allow, fasting and
| lying fiat upon the back-not upon the bare
grouud-and keeping as warm as possible,
are usually more curative than medicines.
Nothing is more tempting, when man
is foot-weary after hard march, than to
plunge the feet into cold water. Nothing
is more dangerous, or more likely to induce
pulmonary diseases. Wait till the feet are
entirely dry and cool-it is better to wait
till the next morning. The same is true of
all bathing-the face, wrists, and hands
only excepted-it should never be INDUCED
when heated. Bathing early in the morn
! ing is healthful and invigorating, and should
be regularly practiced, when possible, for
the sake of cleanliness. A dirty man is al
ways liable to disease. Yet it is not well to
use much soap. except upon the hands, as
the alkali contained in it unduly purges the
pores. Water, the natural solvent, when
freely used, is the most eficacious cleanser.
Next to the temptation of bathing at i'm
proper times, is that of throwing ones self
on the cool. inviting ground, when hot and
weary. Never do it, or most for more than
a minute. Leaning against tree or the
back of comrade, as both sit upon blank
cts or knapsacks, is far better. When you
must sleep on the ground, spread your In
dia rubber blanket under. if you have one.
Rheumatisms, agues, diarrheas, and fevers
may thus be avoided.
Don't discard your flannel shirt because
it is warm; and always remember that a
suddenly checked perspiration, whether by
incautious draughts of water. by lying on
the damp ground. by sitting in the wind, or
otherwise, may be the means of swift dis
ease and death. When you are on guard,
or marching in the rain, keep your shoulders
dry if you can. If you are wet through, keep
going till your clothes dry and you will not
be likely to take coid.-Ihe World.