The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-31
COLD TEA FOR SOLDIERS.
1t Has Been Found to BE Very Bene-
fetal on Long Marches.
From the Medical Record.

From the Meulcai 1SecOfu.
The perfect portable filter has yet to be
invented. Those in use now, although in
many respects satisfactorily, have draw
backs that to a large extent nullify their
efficacy. As has been recently pointed out
by Dr. Sajous, a filter thoroughly to an
swer the purpose required by a soldier in
the field should be strong. portable, capa-
bic of turning out a large quantity OK
water in a short time, and so constructed
that it can be easily taken apart and
cleansed. No filter present in the mar
ket fulills all these conditions. UndouDt-
eddy the most certain way of sterilizlhg
water is by boiling, and is the best method
OF combating the diseases incidental to
tropical climate. Nevertheless, this mode
of sterilization is open to objections, not
the least of which Is that unless the wafer
50 treated is subsequently oxygenated 1t IS
a very tasteless fluid.
The late Ernest Hart was strong adj
yocate of what he termed the doctrine or
the tea-lettle," and many distinguished
Indian commanders have testified in faVor
of tea as a means of quenching soldiers
thirst when on a long march in equatorlai
lands. The men under the leadership OF
Sir Herbert Kitchener during the recent
campaign In the Soudan were allowed no
alcoholic stimulants whatever, but per-
formed their long journey through the de5-
ert ending with the victory at Albara, on
cold tea.
The Scientific American of July has an
article lauding the refreshing qualities OF
cold tea, an which It says that "one OF
the most efficacious ways of quenchinS
thirst, when there is a strong pressure Ior
uninterrupted action on the part OF me
soldier is to fill his canteen with tea VI
course, this would be made from boheo
water. and the addition of a few drops OF
lemon juice would increase its power OF
exciting the salivary glands to greater ac-
tivity, and it is an expedient often resort
ed to when it is desirable that the beast
possible amount of liquid should be III
gested.
'.The use of tea Is still further approved
by the testimony OF experience. Sir Joliii
Hall says: In the Kaffir war QSS2) march
was made by 200 men in which 1000 mics
were covered In seventy-one days, or az
the rate of fifteen miles a day, without
wines, spirits or beer Officers in lhuld'
when marches were made through maa-
rioEs regions, had an opportunity to test
the virtues of tea Lord Wolseley urges 10
use. and the experience of the Canadd
lumbermen confirms its value. They speIu
the winter in the backWoods in the hardest
sort of labor and are exposed to freel-
ing temperature. While no spirits are az
lowed, they have an unlimited supply 0l
tea"
The fact has been conclusively proved
that, when men are undergoing severe eA
ertion in extremes Of temperature, alcohoI
In any form is not only unnecessary, put
is absolutely injurious. Tea infused in boil
ing water is certainly much more palala-
be than inslpid boiled water, as well as
being practically harmless. THEREFOR,
there would seem to be 10 reason why our
army in Cuba should not follow the eN-
ample of their British brothers-in-arms III
India and Egypt and march and fight te-
freshed and invigorated by cold tea.