The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-12

fore. whenever IL Is possible to do go.
charge to dry closhing as soon as possible
at the end OF the days exertion. care
full observance Of this rule viii be found
OF Immense benefit In warding of fever ana
ague. In order that the above precaution
may be observed. every soldier ordered TO
march should carry one complete change
OF clothing even though the extra SUIT
should consist Of nothing more than light
shirt and trousers 10 wear In camp ana
while sleeping. This suit should be kept
dry on the march by wrapping II In the
rubber blanket which VIII form an impor-
tant feature in the equipment OF every SOL
der.
The Rain sheat--IDi the tropics the only
shelter necessary in d temporary camp Is
roof the sides Of which should come
within about four feet OF the earth. me
weight of waterproof canvas is necessarily
considerable and In active operations THIS
will often prove impossible to carry. To
meet some OF the requirements OF orr army
in Cubei II might be- supplied with rain
sheets. OF several sizes. to shelter either
TWO. four. eight or sixteen men. The rain
sheet, In common use by tropical explorers,
Is merely a square OF strong muslin. OF any
given szo made like n tent fly. and soaked
In linseed oil and paraffin. 20 render 1t i'm
pervious to waicr. without becoming. sticky.
good pack mule can carry enough rain
sheets to sheNer a number of men. and
they are much better for sheltering mon
In hammocks than any save very large
tents.
The Rubber Blanket Whenever for any
reason the soldie finds himself without u
rain sheet or other roof to shelter him. he
can secure very fair protection by hanging
his rubber blanket tontwise over his ham
mock II his hammock Is provided with n
mosquito shirt. the cord on which tho lat
ter is suspended between the supports OF
the hammock fosma n ready ridge pole for
the rain proof blanket. In Il timbered
country. where small trees furnish ready
means for hanging hammocls. the soldier
who Is equipped with hammock and mos
quito shirt can. in fifteen minutes or less,
have ready for usa most restful bed
above the mud and water and the worst OF
the malarla-a perfect protection from the
mosquitoes and. roof to shelter from the
rain.
The Hat If our soldiers are sent TO
Cuba wearing ordinary felt hats, or close
fitting straw hats. there is danger that
cases of sunstroke will he numerous. with
II majority OF our volunteers coming from
offices and factories. seldom exercising III
the sun at midday In summer, they win
need the best protection for their heads
that can be procured. The ideal hat for
the tropics is the pith helmet (made from
the pith OF the sofa tree) with the whole
body Of tho hat kept away from direct
contact with tho head by means OF sweat
band which Is attached TO the body Of the
hat through four or more pieces OF cork
Tho air circulntes freely around the head
of the woarer aud passes out of shielded
hole In the top, In addition to all THU
the back part OF the helmet comes low
enough to protect the most vulnerable spot
the back OF the neck.
II is probable that large supply of plth
helmets could not be secured on short no
tice. The next best thing would be coil;
helmets Of tho same shape, with the same
sort of ventilated sweat band and hole
In the top. The cloth cover should 10
painted lcaden gray. because white would
be too conspicuous.
Food and Drink. In reality the hygrnic
principles which promote the preservation
OF health In the tropics are few aud simple.
1t is mistake to burden the soldier or
traveller with unnecessary rules, or rules
which 1t is utterly impossible for him to
observe. For the benefit of those interest
ed. | will state in the brefest manner the
rules OF hygiene which have carried ne
safely through some very malarious po,-
lions of the tropics.
A well man should not take medicine
TO ward off disease. Even the best Of
tropical medicines tQuntne) wears itself
out II taken too frequently, and its use
should be confined TO sick men,