Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-26
soldiers, Health.

SOI0hcKB' kAsAAbn.
The following observations by DIR. HALL, of the
New York Journal of HedhA are worthy the atten
ton of our soldiers
l. In any ordinary campaign, sickness disables OF
destroys three times as many as the sword.
2. On march, from April to November, the
entire clothing should be colored flannel shirt
with a loosely-buttoned collar, cotton drawers
wooden pantaloons, shoes and stockings, and light
coored felt hat, with broad brim 10 protect the
neck eyes, and face from the glare of the sun and
from the rain and substantial but not heavy coat
when off duty.
3. Sun-stroke may be prevented by wearing a
silk handkerchief in the hat, or white linen hood
hatcover, extending like cape over the neck and
| shoulders
4. Colored blankets are best, and if lined with
brown drilling the warmth and durability are dou-
bled while the protection against dampness from
lying on the ground, is almost complete.
8. Never lie sit down on the grass or bear
earth for moment; rather use your hat--a hand
kerchief even, is a great protection. The warmer
you are the greater need for this precautionas,
damp vapor Is Immediately generated, TO be alb
sorbed by the clothing, and to cool you OFF too
rapidly.
6. While marching, on other active duty, the
more thirsty you are, the more essential 1t IS to
safety of life ITSELF to rinse out the mouth two or
three times, and then take swallow of water at a
tlme with short intervals. brave French gen.
eral on forced march, fell dead on the instant, by
drinking largely of cold water, when snow was on
the ground.
and to that alertness of mind which is all important
in an engagement; and few things more certainly
and more eectuAlly prevent sound sleep than eat
ing heartily after shutdown, especially after a
heavy march or desperate battle.
s. Nothing is more certain TO secure endurance
and capabiEty of long continued effort, than the
avoidance of everything as drink except cold
water not excluding coffee at breakfast. Drink
even cold water very slowly.
g. After any sort of exhausting effort, cup
of coffee hot cold is an admirable sustaner OF
the strength, until nature begins to recover her
self.
10. Unless after a long abstinence or great ia
tigue do not eat very heartily just before great
undertaking; because the nervous power IS ire
sistibly drawn to the stomach to manage the food
eaten thus drawing of that supply which the Drain
and muscles so much need.
IL If PERSONS will drink brandy it is incompara-
bly, safer to do so after effort than beore for 1t
can give only transient strength lasting but re "
spy given effort is to be kept in continuance, and if
longer than the few minutes. the body becomes
more feeble than it would have been without the
stimulus it is clear that its before an effort Is
always hazardous, and is always unwise.
r. Never go to sleep, especially after great ef-
fort. even in hot weather, without some covering
over you. :,
H. Under all circumstances, rather than lie down
on the bare ground, lie in the hollow OF two logs
placed together several smaller pieces OF
wood laid side by side; or sit on your hat leaning
against tree. A nap of ten or fifteen minutes IN
that posision will refresh you more than an hour on
the bare EARTH with the additional advantage OF
perfect safety.
a. A cut is less dangerous than bullet wound,
and heals more rapidly.
Is. If from any wound the bleod spirits out in
lets. instead of steady stream. you will die IN
few minutes unless it is remeded because an artery
has been divided, and that takes the blood direct
from the fountain of life. To stop this instantly, tie
handkerchief or other cloth very loosely BE-
TWEEN!i the wound and the heart; put stick,
bayouet or ramrod between the skin and the hand
kerchief and twist it around until the bleeding
ceases and keep it thus until the surgeon arrives
l6 IL the blood flows IN a slow, regular stream.
vein has been pierced, and the handkerchief must
be on the otherside of the wound from the heart;
| that is, beouo the wound.
Il. A bullet through the abdomen (beIy or stom
ach) is more certainly fatal than If aimed at the
head or heart; for in the latter cases the ball is
often glanced of by the bone, or follows round it
under the skin but when it enters the stomach or
bowels from any direction, death is inevitable IN
der almost all circumstances, but is scarcely ever
| instantaneous. Generally the person lives day or
two with perfect cearness of intellect, often not
suffering greatly. The practical bearing of this
statement in reference to the great future is clear
49, Let the whole saId grow, but not longer thsA
| some three inches This strengthens and thlckens
| its growth and thus makes more perfect protec-
ton for the lungs against the DUST and OF the throat
against winds and cold in winter while in the sum-
mer greater pei spiratiOn of the skin is induced
| with an increase of evaporation; hence, greater
GOODNESS of the parts the outside while the throat
is less feverisb, thirsty and dry.
49, Avoid fats and fat meats in summer and in all
| warm days.
| 90 Whenever possible, take a plunge into any
/ lake or running stream every morning, soon as
YOU get up; if none at hand endeayor to wash the
| BODY all over as soon az you leave your bed for
| personal cleanliness acts like charm against
| all diseases always either warding them on alto
! gether or greatly mitigating their severity and
| shortening their duration
| 81 Keen the hair of the head closely cut, say
within an inch and half of the scalp in every part
repeated on the first of each month, and wash the
whole scalp plentifuly in cold water every morn
| ing.
| % Wear woollen stockings and easy fitting shoes
keeping the toe and finger nails always cut mOder
| ately close.
| o. It's more important to wash the feet well
every night than 10 wash the face and hands Of
mornings because it aids to keep the skin and nails
soft and to prevent chatting, blsters and corns, al
| of which greatly interfere with soldiers duty.
| a. The most universally safe position. after all
stunnngs hurts and wounds Is that of being placed
| on the back the head being elevated three or -four
| inches ONLY; aiding more than any one thing else
can de- to equalize and restore the proper circula
| ton of the blood.
| %. The more weary you after march or
other work the more easily will you take cold II
Won remain still after is over, unless, the moment
| YOU cease motion, you throw coat or blanket over
| your shoulders. This precaution should be taken
in the warmest weather, especially if there is even
| a slight air stirring
26. The greatest physical kindness you can show
! a severely wounded comrade is first TO place him
on his back. and then run with all your might for
some water to drink; not second ought to be lost
If no vessel is at hand take your hat If no hat OF
with YOUR shirt wiring it out once tie the arms In
knot as also the lower end, thus making bag, oper
| at the neck only. A feet person can convey buck
etful half mile in this way. l have seen dying
man clutch at single drop Of water from the
fingers end, with the voraciousness Of famlshec
| tiger.
81 If wet to the skin by rain or by swimming
rivers keep in motion until the cloths are d-ied anc
| no harm will result.
%. Whenever it is possible do, by all means, wher
YOU have to use water for cooking or drinking from
| ponds or sluggish streams boil 1t well, and wheT
cool shake it. or stir it, so thas the oxygen OF INT
air shall get to it, which greatly improves u ioi
drinking This boiling arrests the progress OF Ter
mentation which arises from the presence OF organ
c and inorganic impurities, thus tending to prevent
cholera and ali bowel diseases. If there is tint
for boiling, at least strain it through cloth, ever
If won have to use shirt, or trowser leg.
30. Twelve men are hit in battle, dressed in red
where there are only FIVE, dressed in blush grey,
difference of more than two to one; green, seven
brown, six.
| an Water can be made almost ioe-eool in the hot
test weather by closely enyeloping filed canteen
or other vessel with wooden cloth kept PLENTIFUL,
| a