New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-26
ne late direction Of the medical officer Tho ordinary

water even for short time, ia invariably productive
of mischief. Tire tea and coffee should be OF goVu
quality and we'll prepared to preserve their "erGeaoo
flavor and their soothing ard refreshing efects Lager
beer, ale, aud porter if uDd both nonIihhg ana
wholesome, if consumed within judicious limits;
The pmclise of allow NO soldiers splntnons hqnore,
as portion OF their daily ra'ioIs has oehe'e oee
pretty generally if not entirely, a'al doned IN Tue
European service. Its injurious ELECTS upon the
health and morals Of oors have lorg been deprecated
In the British army in India, the use oi aicohoho
liquors was az time, universal, on the suPposi IL
that il had tendency to couterac the depressing In
Huences of a tropical climate; the men took their
spirits regularly before breakfast and not unfrequeny
several lines during the day, especially II on acuve
duty; but 1t was found that it produced quite o
contrary impesiOn, causing instead of preventing de-
billy, and anoTding temptation 10 general drunken,
nes. which was followed By insubOrdiuaIion ana
crime. The result Wac that the Government abolished
the alcoholic ration system altogether, substituting
coffee and tea which are low regularly served once,
and often twice day.
The copGi-ion Of the 18th Regiment Light In
fantry stationed ut JellalabSd, during the ia'e
insurreciion in India, affords happy Illustration
OF the saluary effects OF abstinence from spi'nu-
ous liquors. While the siege wss Progressing, 'ne
men, during a Ieliod of five mouths. were entirely
debarred from drinking, and yet their healh anu
courage most excelsnt as soon, no"e'Ii,
as the grlison WAS relieved, andthey beganio ihouee
in Splits many of them in short time cecame SIZE
and ,iotous The experience of Majot.General Wyie,
of the Bombay army, was precisely tllnlIar' "nen
the soldiers under bis command quaiieIed IN OLE
tris where 10 liquor could be obtaned their heain'
ds.ipline and morals were all that could be Ce'irrd
whereas uncer opposite circumstances, insubordinoh
and disease prevBiled to a frs shiiul extent.
During the Crimean war, coffee and tea were found
TO be eniuenty wholesome and uvigordilng, enablng
the troops 10 sustain fatigue and 10 resi- oieease'
When The neu in the trenches, and could moi OBJ
iau their usual supplies OF these articles. they became
langud and suffered from dysenery and diar,ea' 10
produce their peculiar sustaining aud exbllara'lng
.lrH1 la fsslsn hot an
ately strong, with sugar, II MOI also with cream
The other work, OF which we have given the
title ID OF more comprehensive character, lncud-
ing chapters on military hygiene in general, aud
some of the more prevalent diseases OF the camp,
as well as the specific topics of military surgery
The following remarks should be noted by persons
in authority:
Pure ar, one would suppose, could always be CON-
manded in camp-but the TACT Is far otherwise without
great vigilance.
There is 10 circulation Of air, or at least very in
suflle, mt one in the company tents. The would
never strike them if they were not ordered Six or
eight sleeping in common tent, will render The
air poisonous 10y morning. During tie day 1t VIII be
very imperfecIy ventilated. WHAT rs to create any
current Of air through tl Is it surprising that nen
passing after nj ght in such an atmosphere, should
get sick
Again, men, particularly raw troops, viii carry pro-
visions from the into their tents, the remains
of which Left to decOmpOse upon the tent 1oor or
haug upon tie tent poles. Ii the flrIiebed
with straw they will never turn Il out OF their tents
to expose it TO sun, or purify IL IN any way, y ~
IL themselves. All these things should be loVked alter
by the medical officer, ard he Should make written
uggesons, 10 TIE commanding officer for the cor
recOn Of these sanitary errors, whenever be perceives
them 10 exist. The straw should he turned out daily,
ia dry weather, tie tent thoroughly poIced, aud the
TENS struck at least once IN three Gays.
hat ha laOke md
clothing shoold be frequently aired aud repacked.
Great care should be taken that the shoud ,eep
dry Never let them lie down 10 vet clothes, If it
be avoided. The men always carry change IN their
knapsscks lfthey get soaked OF march, let them
out on at least " shirt and drawers, after their
tents are litcned and dry their wet clothes by their
camp fires.
TO carry Oft any rain that may fall 30 that the tent
| noor may be dry.
In sleciog ground for camp, unless uncomfortable
strategic compel, low moist ground s always
To be avoided, matter how attractive IL may look.
| dry gravey roll is always to be preferred Before
determining upon the grouud spade should be uuDs
aioot or more 10 ascertain whether il IL sufficiently
drained 10 make it ssfe for the 10 sleep On. For
OF yious reasons the vicinity Of Marshes particularly
the leeward side OF them, should be avoided If pos
slLle.
When the camp ia to remain more than week in
| the same place, bnnks may be readily made for the
sick by driving ogked stakes into the ground al The
corners, laying tide pieces In the iofked ends ani
| then making trausOms o tie slaves If Hour bnrrels
IL is aivisabe TO do ihls whenever practicable. II
| men are well eucamled and the camp well pOiiced
! the silk let will very much diuinished. Vaidy re-
| marks, upon this point, that during campaign one
cannot calculate upon less than 10 per OF sik
| aud feaIfully more If badly encanped, badly pro-
| visioned, defeated, &c.
The subsistence OF the s matter Of the greatest
importance, regards quality quantity and mode of
preparation. The importance OF full stomach to q
soldier, has always been recognized. Frederick the
Great, remarked, Z" a soldiers courage is in his
stomach" prudent general will always feed lis
soldiers before lighting, If be has the means. Meu
insufticienily fed fail rs soldier. and more readily
succumb TO morbific influences. Both body and III nd
show the effects Of poor diet. Tie Uhied States
Amy ration, however, is all sufficient for the men,
and if well cooked, will keep them beallby aud
vigorous. The medical officer should inform Iinself
upon the principles Of cooking the articles composing
The ration, 60 at lie may be able to instruct the
regimental cooks upon this important point.
DR.. Taylor, the principal medical officer Of the
British Army in tue Crinea has remarked that since
he mas turned his attention TO it he Think a COM
peent surgeon should know how to cook, end that he
shoud learn it in the first part OF his medical educa
ton.
Beef and pork are the animal part. of the regular
ration In tie war with Mexico we sometimes used
mutton iuetead OF beef, it was readi pro-
cured. Beet. however is the most nutritious :nimal
food ordinarily accessible TO the soldier Its compo-
siton is identical with blood. Bat that il may be
readily a,simnttd, 1t is important that IL be well
cooked. SOldiers on march or in camp have the
greatest propensity TO fry their beef. This ID the woret
possible way ia which il be cooked. 1t causes
horny hardening Of the surfaces Of the pecee, prevent
il the due Transmission and dhusjon Of heat through
it, renders the fiber tongh, that it is never su-
fciently masticated. Again. the action Of heat upon
the fixed oils fat always used in frying, is to render
the substances particularly olenslve to tie stomach
Fats give of when boiling, in addition TO caybonic
acid and infiamiable yapor, part OF The fatty acds
and most scrid volatile principle (acroleine). The
meat is hus deprived of important nutiilive pIiuc
Il. I'D evovsa otl.ra ysIv IN tte