Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-08-25
Defects IN System
of Hardening
Recruits 49,
BY WOODS HUTCHINSON, M. D.

One OF the logical results OF the
lack OF adequate training in camp
hygiene and physical condition
among the men, and the insufficient
power given to the sanitary and the
medical corps in the selection and
the equipment Of camp sites, is the
group OF accidents and fatalities which
invariably occur when new troops
are being broken in' TO camp life.
Already the papers are busy with
reports Of deaths from pneumonia,
from heat prostration, from heart
failure on ambitions hikes and of at
tacks OF intestinal disturbance from
unsuitable or tainted food, or from
scanty or polluted water.
OF course, certain amount of
friction is inevitable in assembling
and transporting such large bodies
Of men, and the total fatalities and
sicknesses do not bulk very large in
proportion to the mass. Indeed,
the army officers, who, spurred by
the popular outcry, have been in
speeding and publicly reporting the
results of their own efficiency, quite
plume themselves upon the fact that
only 2 per cent OF the men are sick
or in the hospital But the point
and the pity Of it is that these dis
tressing fatalities we're practically all
preventablc II proper care and intel
ligence had been used, and, more
over, 2 per cent represents just
about the average morbidity for the
entire working population, men,
women and children, and is nearly
double what ii should be for care
fully picked and selected body of
strong and vigorous men in the prime
OF life. t.e
The idea OF the War department
appears to be that If the men we're
mustered III in good physical con
dition, as they claim to have been,
they have no business to be sick, and
that when il has provided the dry
staples Of a ration, and canvas roof
to sleep under, It has done all that
can be reasonably required. Already
philanthropic organizations in the
border states are sending out re-
quests for funds 10 supply facilities
for the soldiers, and 10 supplement
their rations, while the New York
troops are reported to have raised
$4,000 among themselves by private
subscription TO provide their camp
with a respectable hospital, their
present hospital accommodations ~
consisting Of couple OF unscreened
tents about hundred and fifty yards
from the camp stables, which is
simply an invitation to the plague
Of flies. .s. .f---
These heat prostratious and phys
ical breakdowns Of various sorts APP
pear to be chiefly. due to two causes.
One is the inadequate and injudioious
character OF the training which is
given to the militia in times Of peace.
Though battles are usually fought
outdoors and campaigns conducted
chiefly in the open country, nine
tcnths OF the training OF our citizen
soldiers is given indoors, Four-hfths
Of the ideal military training, which
would also be ideal for health and
efficiency in times Of peace, should
consist OF short hikes in small squads,
which could be carried out on week
ends and holidays at intervals all
through the spring, summer and
autumn months These could be
made sometimes carrying shelter and
cooking kit, sometimes to perma-
nent camps and route stations, some
times BY train, sometimes by motor
sometimes by boat.
In this way the men would not
only greatly improve their health, but
become familiar with the country,
learn how TO take advantage ,of
various forms OF transportation
under military conditions, how TO
feed, shelter and take care OF them
selves in the open, and how to pick
tent. sites and protect their beds from
food water Most important Of all,
they would be kept perpetualiy in
reasonably fit and ready physical
condition their feet hard, their wind
good, their muscles springy,
So that which they went into the
annual camp or we're suddenly called
out for active service, they would
be able to stand reasonable amount
Of forced marching, or trench dig
ging, or roughing 1t in bad weather,
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