The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-26
Advice to Soldiers.

A correspondent writes to the Middlebury
Register, to give to inexperienced soldiers
some hints for the preservation Of health,
from what he has learned in the field. After
warning the new recruit that the enthusiasm
of the first week will soon tone down to
stanch realities, which he must meet and face
as man-that he cannot live as carelessly
about his health as he can at home, where
warm rooms and comfortable beds and well
cooked meals are at his service from day to
day, aid that he must act the physician for
himself to great degree, and be watchful a.
gainst any predisposition to disease, he pro-
ceeds to give some special directions as fol-
lows:
"They consist of a program of articles to
be taken by the recruit when he goes into
camp,or to be sent to him by his friends,wh
he shall have reached a point where he can be
addressed.
Let him have with him two pairs of we'll
knit socks, two firm wooden shirts, large
crash towel, piece of CASTLE soap, to be
used as often as possible in bathing the en-
tire body, woolen cap, sometimes called a
smoking cap, two large old-fashioned silk
pocket-handkerchiefs, which may be used to
hang from the neck, as prott ction against q
blazing sun, or as veil to cover the face
when sleeping out nights, amid miasmss and
sleeping vermin, or as bandase for wounds.
He should have constantly with him supply
OF Cayenne pepper, such as is obtained from
the drug-stores under the name of 'capsi-
cum
The benefits arising from the use of this
latter article are incalculable. A single pinch
in glass of fiat warmish water will nullify
the effects and the uncomfortable sensation
Fl ON having drank too much water during
the day; will help the weary sentinel
keep awake at his post at night, by
warming and invi igorating the whole system.
A good pinch eaten at each meal, OF when a
cup Of tea or coffee IS drank, will aid diges-
ton, assist in preventing acidity of the stom-
acb, and is besides great antagonist of the
diarrh"a, dysentery, Aux and 'looseness,
the great scourges of the army. \ level
teaspoonful Of capsicum, taken daily in eat
ing Or drinking, or both, Or two fingers full
taken two or three times day, will do more
toward warding off the fever and ague than
ten times the cost in rum and quinine. There
should also always be carried in the KNAPP
sack large piece of gutta percha cloth, to
spread upon the ground at night for the sol
dier to spread his blanket on when he goes
to bed. 10 these suggestions may be added
the injunctions to eat, as far as possible, reg
/ ularlv. to shun suffers tents, with their De.
testable pies and cakes, and their poisonou:
preserved meats, as one would shun a con
tact with the leprosy; to maintain, in short
perfect system of living, just as far as duty
in camp will allow.
If my friend who may read this, and who
is going soon to buckle on his armor for tn,
cause of his country, will treasure the hints
have thrown out, and act upon them, he vii
add hundred per cent 20 the probabilities 0
his returning to his fathers house, that knew
such keen anguish and bitter mourning wher
he was called to leave it. Once. more, my
soldier friend, before you leave your home
supply yourself with envelopes and writin:
paper, and with good substantial lead pen
ell; upon the envelopes have postage stamp
placed, and have them directed in a strong
plain hand to the ldress of those yo
will want to write to when far away-you
father, your loving and ever watchful mother
or your sister; and then when you stop any
where, for a day or such a matter, writ
something home, if it is not more than 81
lines, and tell your anxious friends how yo
are. And to you, parents, too, and relation
of the soldiers, must say, write often
him. Write long letters. Give all the new
you can think OF. Let every line be full {
love, of kind, atfectionate interest and er
couragement, and you cannot tell how muc
sunshine you will put into his heart, and ho
much better soldier and man he will becom
for your thoughtfulness of him. l speak
all these things whereof have SEEM"