The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-07


VOlanteers.
Numerous suggestions. for the benefit of our
volunteer soldiery, hare been made, and many
excellent rules laid down for the guidance Ct
the troops, whether in camp, on the march, OF
in the field; and we have seen nothing better
than the following, from Hats Journal %
Health -
l. In ordinary campaisns, sickness disaoles
or destroys three times as many as the SWORD.
2. On march. from April TO November the
entire Clothing should be a coloEed flannel shirt'
with loosely buttoned collar. cotton drawers,
woolen pantaloons, shoes. and stockings, and
light colored felt hat. with broad brim to pro-
tect the eyes and face from the glare of the Sun
and from the rain, and substantial but not
heavy coat when off duty.
8. Sun-stroke is most efectually prevented by
wearing silk handkerchief in the crown ct
the hat.
4. Never lie or sit down on the grass or bare
earth for a moment; rather use your hat-a
handkerchief even is great protection. The
warmer you are. the greater need for this pre-
caution, as damp vapor is immediately gene
ted, to be absorbed by the clothing, and to cool
you off too rapidly.
5. While marching, or on other active duty,
the more thirsty yoa are. the more essential isit
10 safety of life itself, to rinse out the mouth
two or three times, and then take swallow Of
water at time, with short intervals. brave
French general, on a forced march, fell dead
on the instant by drinking largely of cold wa
ter when snow was on the ground.
6. Abundant sleep is essential to bodily eff
ciency, and to that alertness of mind which is
all-important in an engagement; and few
things morc certainly and more effeetually pre-
vent sound sleep than eating heartily after sun.
down. especially after a heavy march or despe-
| rate battle.
Z. After any sort Of exhausting effort, cup
# coffee, hct or cold. is an admirable sustainer
Of the strength until Nature begins to recover
herself.
g. If persons will drink brandy,it is incom.
parably safer to do so after an effort than be-
lasting Only few minutes; but as it can me-
yer be known how long any 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 the use before an effort is always ha-
zardous. and is always unwise.
Q. Never go to sleep, especially after great
effort, even in hot weather, without some cover
ing over you.
10. Under all circumstances, rather than lie
down on the bare ground, lie in the hollow OF
two logs placed together. or across several small
er pieces of wood laid side by side; or sit
on your hat, leaning against tree. "A nap OF
ten or fifteen minutes in that position will re-
fresh YOU more than an hour IN the bare
earth, with the additional advantage of perfect
safety.
IL. A cut is less dangerous than bu.let-wcund
and heals more rapidly.
~. If from any wound the blood spirits out IN
Jets, instead of steady stream. yon will de N
a few minutes unless it is remedied, bec.Gse an
artery has been divided. and that takes the blood
direct frcm the fountain OF life. 10 stop this
instantly, tie handkerchief or other cloth very
loosely BETWEEN the wound and the heart;
put a stick, bayonet or ramrod betreen the skin
and the handkerchief, and twist it arou:.>. Ua:;l
rhe bleeding ceases, and keep it thus until the
surgeon arrives.
l3. If the blood flows in slow. regular
stream, vein has been pierced, and the hand
kercllirf must be on the other side of the wound
from the heart; that is beio,o the wound.
II. A bullet through the abdomen (bc;iy or
stomach) is GER ainly more fatal than if aimed
at the head or heart for in the latter cases the
ball is often glanced off by the bone, or follows
round it under the skin but when it enters the
stomach or bowels, from any direction. death Is
inevitable under all conceivable circumstances,
hp, is scarcely ever instantaneous. Generally
pe-son lives day or two with perfect clearness
of intellect, often rot suffering greatly. The
practical bearing OF this statement in reference
to the great future is clear
Is. Let the whole beard grow, but not longer
than some three inches. This strengthens and
rhickens it's growth. and thus makes a more
perfect protection for the lungs against dust.
and of the throat against Winds and cold in
winter, while IN summer greater perspiration
of the skin is induced. with an increase of eva
poraton; fence. greater coOlness OF the parts
on the outside, while the throat is less feyeri.h,
thirsty and dry. 3Fts q 5s
l6. Avoid fats and fat meats in summer ana
III ALL warm days.
IL. Whenever possible, take plunge into any
lake or running stream every morning, as soor:
as you get up; ifno,e at hand, endeavor to
wash the whole body all over as soon as you
| leave your bed. for personal cleanliness acts
like charm against all diseases, ALWAYS either
wardins them of altogether, or greatly miti.
eating their severity and shortening their dura.
tion.
Is. Keep the hair Of the head closely cut, say
within an inch and . half ofthe scalp in every
part, repeated on the first of each month. and
wash the whole scalp plentifully in cold water