New-York tribune., 1899-11-21
ARMY PATIONS IN LUZON.
DIR. LOUIS L. SEAMAN RECOMMENDS IN
CAL CHANGES AS A RESULT OF
HIS EXPERIENCE.

Dr rou,s + Seaman OF No. is west Ihlrt'
arst-st who was in the Philippines ouiine '.'
summer for the purpose OF inVesuea'ins ."' 90 ,so
ability OF the United States Army raton ioi ",e
,r ,ronicai climates told President Mckinney III
Washington on Saturday the results oil MS re-
search The President was much interes'eu III '''o
subject and frequently asked quesuohS VIM
showed that he was following DR. seaman %
ror,enca and views closely. DR.. Seaman TOOK !"
radical stand IN the matter Of what our so'u'eiS
T., ,ho pb,linpnes should eat. After serving III
por,o pico during the Spanish war as surgeon oi
the 1st Regiment OF Volunteer Engineers, Where he
beean his study OF the effect OF the present rato
be went TO the Philippines in May OF thls Se"t w
continue the study as civilian and physician Inc
ood ~ ARMY surgeons at the front was so pressing
that n commission as surgeon OF the A'h -"
fantrv was offered to him. and 1t was accepted
with the proviso that he would have every oppor-
tunity TO continue his ration study. Although he
left the Philippines in September on leave OF ao-
sence ne had been in every American camp III the
islands and had gone to the root OF the matter re
told the President his opinions and narrated the
facts 10 him. He said 10 the President that the
War Department had modified the clothing or the
Army for service in hot countries. but had done
nothing in the matter Of food. The Army IN the
Philippines he said Is suffering from diarrhpa IN
every camp. For this he blames the food. Ihere Is
altogether too much meat in the ration ne ue-
clared The soldiers in the Philippines have the
right 10 draw twenty-five ounces OF meat uey
while the Russian soldiers at Port Arthur ana
those serving in the armies Of Continental Europe
and in colder zone than the philippines get o'''
five ounces. They thrive on It,
Dr. Seaman finds great fault with the white
beans OF this country. which part OF the ration
For men enfeebled by n hot climate they are oIteh
indgestible and an irritant TO the organs OF dges
ton THE black bean which is indigenous to the
Philippines would he q model substitute belng
lust as nutritious and free from the faults OF the
white bean. Canned tomatoes often ferment IN IN a a
hot climate. and then injurious. Ihey nov
form one OF the elements of the ration In use wnich
for a hot country is too full OF heterogeneous ele-
ments. 1870
President Mckinley was told that the ideal ration
for the Philippines. any country In the same belt
of heat would be largely farinaceous Cereals par :,
tjcularly honiny and rice should be used, ana
fruits. The surgeon found that the strong black
coffee Of the islands did harm, and that tea shouia
be used in its stead 1t was also pointed out 70 tne
President that the belt around the waist now worn
by the soldiers was dragging down their health
and co-operated with the irritating food To weak
en- the organs Of digestion. When the belt is nl!ed
with cartridges II is constant strain on the abdo-
men The physician advocated a belt slung from
the shoulder like that used by the English sol
der For travelling ration DR.. Seaman advises
the use OF concentrated vegetable soups, not only
for their great nutrition but because they VIII de-
crease the load the soldier must carry