Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-25
rHp HEALTH OF THE ARMY.


ing Select shoe of stout, soft leather, with
broad sole aud low heel.
Prefer wooden socks. II the feet begin to
chaie rub the socks with common soap where
they come in contact with the sore places.
An old soldier drinks and eats as little as
possible while marching. The recruit on the
contrary, is continually munching the contents
of his haversack, and using his canteen II Is
a bad habit, and causes more suffering III Tue
end.
The commencement of the days march
should be prompt Nothing tires men so much
as hanging around a camp, waiting for the
word to start
1t is a great comfort to the men to halt for
ten or fifteen minutes at the end OF the frst
| half hour: many, about this time, require TO
attend to the calls of nature, After this there
should be a halt of ten or fifteen minutes at
the end of every hour, with rest OF twenty
! minutes in the middle of the day for lunch.
| A longer halt than this stif1ens the men, and
renders subsequent marching difficult The
best rule is to get through the days march,
and rest in camp, if possible, by two o'clock,
p. NJ.
The best pace to adopt, in marching, is from
80 to 100 steps (of % inches each) 10 the min
ute this will give rate of from q to q miles
to the hour.
| FOOD.
The amount allowed Tor each man is great
er in quantity than the similar allowance FIR
any European soldier. If he understands his
duties and manages well, any commissary ot
subsistence can save from fifteen to thirty per
cent out of the ratons furnished by govern
ment, and with the money thus saved fresh
vegetables, butter milk, Sc, may be pro-
cured.
When the surgeon considers it necessary
for the health of the troops the commanding
officer, on his recommendation, may order is
sues Of fresh vegetables, picked onions, sour
kraut, or moasses, with an extra quantity OF
rice and vinegar"
Desiccated vegetables aud dried apples may
be obtained on similar authority.
When the rations furnished Tor the troops
are damaged, or in any unfit for use, the army
regulations require the commanding officer to
appoint aboard OF survey" composed of
competent officers, by which they may be
condemned, in which case good provisions are
issued in their stead.
Soldiers should always eat at regular hours,
as tar as the exigencies OF service permit.
Neglect of regular hours for meals tends to dis
order the digestion. and TO invite diarl hea.
IN ACTION.
The proper position in which to place a
wounded or tainting man is Hat upon his back,
with the head very slightly raised.
=
water !; if canleen or cup is not at hand, bring
it in hat or any available vessel.
AS a rule, cuts, even when extensive, are
less dangerous to life than they seem the con-
trary is true of bayonet aud bullet wounds.
Whenever blood is flowing freely from a
wound by spirits or jets, there Is immediate
danger, and, if the wound is situated in one OF
the limbs, Il stout handkerchief or band should
be promptly tied loosely around H. between
the wound and the heart; drum stick, bay
onet, ramrod, or jack knife, is 10 be then III
serted between the skin and the bandage, and
twisted around until the strangulation of the
limb stops the flow OF blood, and it should bc
held thus until the surgeon arrives.
In a less urgent case, o. where the wound
is differently situated, pressure applied direct
ly to its surface, and kept up steadily, will OF
ten save life.
CAMP LIFE.
No more than five men should ever be al
lowed to sleep in a common army tent Of tn
kind most commonly i'll use.
, The men should sleep in their shirts am
drawers, removing the shoes, stockings, am
outer clothing, except when absolutely i'm
practicable. Sleeping in the clothes is neve
SO Refreshing, and is absolutely unhealthy.
: hiSsdoiS > 49, - - -'i-- T-i--,-,.'.r nd
air, for preventing annoyance from insects
for dry wing clothing, and for security agans
chilliness during the night.
The underclothing should be washed anC
thoroughly dried once week.
The men should battle, or wash the whole
body with water, at leasl once week, and of
tener when practicable but the feet should be
bathed daily, ana the stockings washed when
ever soed.
TENTS.
The tents for the men should lie placed as
far from each other as the Regulations" and
than two paces) crowding is always mi urious
to health. (Regulations, p. 506.j No refuse
Stops, or eXcrement should be allowed to be
deposited in the trenches for drainage around
the tents. Each tent should be thoroughly
swept out daily, and tine materials used fol
bedding aired and sunned if possible; the
canvas should be raised freely at its base, anC
IT should be kept open as much as possible
during The daytime in dry weather, in orde
to secure ventilation, for tents are liable 10 be
come very unhealthy if not constantly ant
thoroughly aired.
Free ventilation should also be secured a
night, by opening and raising the base of thu
tent to as great an extent as the weather vii
: permit
: CAMPS.
Except when impossible for military reasons
the site of camp should be selected for tn
dryness of its soil, its proximity to fresh wa
, ter of good quality, and shelter from hig
winds. 1t should be on slight declivity, il
order TO facilitate drainage and not in the vi
entity of swamps or stagnant water.
trench at least eighteen inches deep
: should be dug around each tent, to secure dry
ness, and these should lead into other main
or cutters, by which the water will be con
Quoted away from the tents.
STRONG DRINK.
Spirits should only be issued to tile men af
ter unusual exertion fatigue, or exposure, anC
on the discretion of the surgeon.
Those men who drink spirits habitualIy, OF
who commit excess in its use, are the first tC
fail when strength and endurance are required
and they are less likely to recover from wound,
and injuries.
The IRISH SoLDIERs-The president il