New-York tribune., 1907-10-28
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Sanitary Precautions ON Al the Var
ships.
[From The Tribune Bureau.I

Washington October 81 1907.
SCUTTLE BUTTS THAT ARE CLEAN.-The
bureau of construction and repair, which has
charge of installation of features board the
warships. is engaged in fitting all the vessels with
drinking fountains. This is the invention of a
officer of the naval medical corps. Surgeon NJ f.
Gates, who is attached to the United States cruiser
Chicago. This consists of a large tank containing
distilled water with faucets which supply the
water to a tube to which the mouth may be ap-
piled. The stream of water is elected sufficiently
high to permit person TO obtain drink without
touching the lips the fixture. There is arrange
ment also for carrying off the refuse water which
is carried back to the boilers. This device has
been perfected and installed with the idea of pre-
venting the spread OF disease. and is the result of
trials of various systems. One Of the rejected
methods the a drinking cup. which had
to be rinsed in some chemically treated water be
fore il was used The paid no attention to
this precautionary measure II too much
trouble. and then it asserted that the pre-
Hmnary treatment Of the drinking cup contributed
a flavor To the drinking water which not pleas
ant although. of course. II perfectly sanitary
The device which has been invented by Surgeon
Gates is known the scutte butt, and has found
much favor. There drinking cups. and
there IS way by which a may defeat the
purpose of these drinking fountains.
There has been a constantly increasing observa-
tion of all the conditions which preserve health
board ships. As much is taken to main
tain the comfort and welfare of a crew of battle
ship as is observed in model community
shore Some of the do not relish these pre-
cautions. and regard the regulations as useless.
II is for this reason that those in charge OF the
health Of the navy sometimes put :heir wits
end 10 obtain method or adopt a device which
will defeat those who not inclined TO go OF
the way take care of themselves The Gates
scuttle butt appears TO have accomplished this in
"A way which is bound To establish the barrier
against coutagion
ENCOURAGEMENT OF NEATNESS.-The War
Department is considering providing certain toilet
articles L. be placed in "a soldiers kit to be fur
nishcd him on his first enlistment. The articles
included IN this kit razor, comb hair brush
shaving brush tooth brush towels and housewife
the latter being little canvas packet containing
thread, scissors. needles and other useful things
II is believed that the soldier should be encouraged
TO habits Of neatncss. and that his personal cleau
may De promoted by furnishing the toilet art-
clos mentioned II is considered that II may re-
quire special legislation to accomplish this al
though If the articles could ba regarded as part
of the ration it would take nothing more than an
executive order issued by the President TO effect
the adoption Of them.
RESERVE LIST NOT IN FAVOR.-The PROPOSE
tion that has been made To the Navy Department
that there shall he carried extra numbers on the
line register of active commissioned officers the
names of those who formerly of the naval
engineer corps. and who some years ago