Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-09-02
LESSON NUMBER 6.

are assembled in camp it is necessary
for the good of all that strict rules OF
personal conduct and sanitation should
be enforced These rules are by no
means hardship. They are protec-
ton. By insisting on strict obedience
OF these rules, the diseases which once
took so heavy toll in nearly all mill
tary camps have been brought under
control; some have been practically
eliminated.
Suppose you were asked to make
choice: either to live under conditions
in which small pox, typhoid fever, diar-
rhea, dysentery and cholera flourish;
or to live under strict regulations
which make these diseases far more
OF a rarity in military than in civil
life. Your good sense would lead you
to choose the later bear this in MIMI
See to it that you cooperate with en-
thusiasm in the measures that WI be
taken to keep your camps clean, COM
Portable and healthful.
One of the pests of camp life, II
perfect cleanliness is not observed, is
the presence of swarms of flies. Flies
are not merely annoy ing. They are
dangerous. Somebody has said, with
perhaps slight exaggeration. that to
soldiers they are more dangerous than
bullets. This is because the hies carry
disease germs. They feed on manure,
garbage, uncovered food, human eX-
creta and the like. They also lay their
eggs wherever refuse of the same kind
is found. The best way to keep flies
away from camps is to destroy the
places where they breed and feed; in
other words, keep the camp spotlessly
clean.
For this reason the daily policing"
Tor cleaning up) of the camp is a mat
ter of first Importance. You will be
required to keep your company street
free from even small objects, bits of
food, and the like, which might at
tract flies or other insects. At least
once day squad will be detailed
to inspect and clean every square foot
of space in or near your living quar-
ters. T his is a duty which an expert,
enced soldier usually performs with
more interest and thoroughness than
the raw recruit; for he more clearly
realizes its Importance.
The Dcst safeguards against disease,
either in the army or out Of it, are
soap and sunshine. You will be re-
CURED to keep everything in the camp
we'll scrubbed and well aired If it
were not required, you could doubtless
be anxious to do it anyway.
The good soldier is almost ''fussy"
in the care of his person, his clothing,
his bedding and his other belongings.
Personal cleanliness includes using
only your own linen, toilet articles,
cup and mess kit. Many annoying skin
troubles and such d eases as colds
and infectious feve1 Gre often passed
from one person to others by using
articles in common
In the training camp there will be
plenty of shower baths, and you will,
of course, make free use of them. If
in temporary camps or at any other
time you cannot obtain bath, give
yourself a good stiff rub with a dry
towel. Twice a week, or oftener, if
necessary, your shirts, drawers and
socks should bewashed and fresh I'M
derclothes put on. In case it is neces-
sary to sleep in your underwear, as it
probably will be, put one aside to wear
at night, so that you will always feel
fresh and clean in the morning.
The scalp should be thoroughly
cleaned about as frequently as the rest
o. the body. This will be made easier
If you keep your hair cut short.
The teeth should be brushed at least
once day; twice day is better.
Neglecting this practice will cause de-
cay Of the teeth, resulting in failure to
chew food thoroughly and probably
ending in stomach troubles.
Cleanliness includes also the prac-
tice of emptying your bowels at least
once a day Get into the habit Of
doing this at a certain time each
morning. 1t is a habit that can be
cultivated, just like any other habit.
DO not let a little personal inconyen-
fence or laziness stand in the way.
The Medical Corps of the army and
your own officers will use every means
within their power to safeguard and
improve your general health. Within
recent years better methods of medical
supervision have greatly reduced the
losses and the disabilities due to war