Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-10-06

anna canal, 1t is possible to destroy the
mosquitoes by raiding their breeding
places, draining morasses. filling poois'
removing underbrush. and leaving no
stagnant water where they may de-
post their eggs and where the wig
glers may uninterruptedly wiggle.
I'm permanent camps this can be
done, at least 70 a great extent. but In
localities where yellow fever and ma
laria abound until mosquitoes are an
initiated the men must be made TO
sleep and II possible eat under mos
quito MEETINGS. 1t Is serious enense
to sleep on post ; no good soldier would
do il. 1t Is better to shoot a man Tor
dlsobedience of health orders than to
have an outbreak of yellow fever In
camp, and If men and officers alike
will realize such things there will be
no fear of yellow jack. Fortunately
there is no yellow fever anywhere
near the army camps on the southern
border
Danger In Flies.
"The greatest danger In camp Is
from those diseases which are carried
by flies. The preventive remedy OF
course is to have no flies or to kill
any that come.
Like mosquitoes, flies must have
place to breed and their favorite place
is horse refuse. This should be re-
moved daily to a place well beyond the
camp precincts and burned. Since 1t
takes eight days for the larvae to
mature from the egg and they are
found where the ground is moist to
depth of eight or ten inches, the safe
treatment Is once a week to cover the
place where the horses stand-first re-
moving the horses-with hay moist
ened with crude oil and to set fire to
1t. The heat will destroy the larvae
about to break forth into wicked
generation of pestilence carriers.
Fire is the great purifier and
should be applied to all other places
in the camp where any impurities
exist as often as the conditions call
for 1t.
"Camp stoves should be set up over
pits lined with stones, the pits extend
ing well beyond the stove at the one
end. The fire should never 60 out
during the day. Small scraps, rem
nants, garbage and the like may be
incinerated there and the cooks may
get rid of dirty water by pouring 1t
slowly over the hot stones, where 1t
will be evapOrated; but II In their
haste they slOp 1t around or pour 1t
on so quickly that 1t runs over the
side. soaking into the ground so that
the heat does not quickly dry up the
moisture, they have created a nuisance
spot. a breeding place for flies.
Zone of the most dangerous diseases,
especially In the tropics, is typhus.
This too Is carried by insects-lice this
time-just as yellow fever is trans
ferred by mosquitoes. Cleanliness Of
person, keeping the clothes and body
free from dirt and vermin. IL the pre-
ventive of this contagion. and II the
troops do their part there will be no
danger from this source.
1T Is unnecessary here to speak Of
the importance Of an abundant supply
Of pure water. When In permanent
camp this is not 50 difficult Of attain
ment, but when on the march the ut
most pains must be taken to avoid the
use of water for any purpose, espe-
cially for drinking, until its sources
have been examined and 1t Is deter
mined to be safe. Formerly only wa
ter which had been boiled was con-
sidered safe; but now the men on
march get their drinking water with
slight delay and without heating 1t.
They have a canvas bag which will
hold about 800 pounds Of water with
five spring faucets with necis which
will enter canteens.
steriIlxed Water.
Into a bag filed from well, spring
or pool is thrown a chemical (hypo-
chloride Of calcium) which sterilizes
| the water In from five minutes to half
an hour. This is a protection against
| typhoid, dysenteries and other trou-
bles and is one Of the best preventives
| of sickness and contagious that can
be employed. Discipline. which limits
| the soldier to the use Of only water
that has been sterilized. is indispen-
sable to the protection Of the men
The general direction Of sanitary
measures for the army at the South
will be under medical officers Of ex-
perience, not only In military santa
ton in general. but especially familiar
with conditions on the border.
1.-The secret Of success In making q
camp healthy is follow up No per.
functory inspection will be permitted
and every officer will be held respon
sible for the enforcement Of thes<
orders, which mean health for the
camp.
mo amount Of sanitation, supervi
sion or discipline can ward on sick
ness, collapse or breakdown and conse
Quent exposure to c0ntagiOn from
men who are physically unfit for mill
1 tary duty. Intelligence and tempera
ment help, but these qualities alon,
are not enough. A man must be con
stltutionally sound to stand the strait
of military life.. and that Is why physi
cal requirements are set SO high TO
the good of the individual and tn,
good Of the service. Reflections d
not indicate that man Is a physica
failure.
'sThose men as citizens have q RICH
to the best protection the military an
thorities can give; their families hav