New-York tribune., 1900-10-28

tents, and left the men weak and emaciated, so
that their return to health was a prolonged
struggle.
Meat in the fresh state being the most perish
able OF all foods. should for campaign require
ments' be replaced as largely as possible with
dried and smoked varieties. The creosote in
smoked beef being gastric stimulant and in
teStinal diSinfeCtant, when proneness to diar
rhoea exists. is decided advantage. Salt and
timed meat is objectiOnabl The nutritiVe value
of salted meat is reduced over one-third. owing
to the solution of the albuminates by the cho-
ride of sodium. and is rendered less digestible
through the hardening of its muscular fibre;
and timed meats produce after continued use
impairment Of digestion On the contrary
smoked meats are not prone to decay, they re-
tain their nutritive qualities. easily digested
ted, and far more portable for field
OF the cereals which must supply portion of
the carbohydrates, those indigenous to the
tropics are better than those grown in temperate
zones they contain less nitrogen. OF these
maize. rice and the native lentil when well
cooked preferable. In mixed diet in
which fat and albumen are supplied from other
sources. rice, on account of the easy digest-
bility of its starchy components, is especially
valuable.
The advantages of sugar are only begin
ming to be appreciated. When energy is to be
liberated rapidly with the least tax upon the
digestive system, sugar, an almost pure soluole
carbohydrate would seem to be the ideal food
for the purpose. The excessive use of sugar,
however, with mixed diet interferes with the
digestion of proteids in diminishing the secre-
ton of hy1rOchloric acid; but when the supply
of meat and fats is restricted hydrochoric acid
quenty sugar can be used more literally.
Tea and coffee contain the identical alkaloids,
theme and caffeine; but for campaign purposes
tea has many advantages When compressed III
cakes il is concentrated and easy or transporta-
tiOn Two minutes sufficient for its IN
fusion, and if taken in a weak solution as II
always should be- the large quantity OF paIata-
BILE sterilized water introduced into the system
forms not only a refreshing beverage, but stlmu-
Iates the processes Of digestion and increases
remarkably the soldiers power of enduring
great fatigue in hot climates.
ic IlIaO q
diments Cpepper salt and Vinegar). II aloS
digestion in stimulating intestinal secrelloh' anu
acts as an anti-fermentative. lberaI ration
for the soldier in the tropics could be supphed
in the following articles: Fresh meat, 10 ounces.
or it's equivalent in dried and smoked beef;
bacon ounces: flour II ounces; rice lentils or
maize ounces sucCulent and green Nege-
ia b1es Il ounces: dried fruits, > ounces; sugar
with chocolate, ounces, tea and condiments,
Including curry. salt, pepper and vinegar
ounces This allowance represents about forty
grains of proteine. II of nitrogen 81 of fat and
$40 Of carbohydrates. and equals 3'5Vo caloric
units or more by 400 than the average given In
the dietary quoted by Munson tor men dt Hdlu
la Dor in the tropics. .
From this list extremely light poriaple
travel ration could be selected. BY doupllng
the quantity of sugar the bulky carbofyuIales
0he vegetables fruits and cereals) coulo pe
omitted, and the energy supplying qualty Oh tne
ration maintained at almost its 1ull StahddIu'
If supplemented by an occasional indulSence III
Fruits and vegetable to be found en- route 10
sunplv vegetable salts and acids, an army couid
subsist for months under severe physlcal strain
and maintain it's health and vigor.