The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-24
LESSON NO. S
MARCHING AND CARE OF FEET

march and develop his muscles so that
he can easily carry his arms and equip
ment. Marching constitutes the prin-
cipal occupation of troops in cam
paign." Unfantry Drill Regulations,
paragraph 623) Modern trench war
reduced the amount of marching re-
quired In campaign; yet it remains just
as important an element in the SOL
dier's training as it ever was.
In order to march for long distances
the soldiers feet must be in good con-
dition. AS has been APPLY remarked,
"the infantryman's feet are his means
of transportation" Special attention
should be paid to the fitting of shoes
and the care of the feet. Marching
shoes should be quite little larger
than shoes for ordinary wear. Sores
and blisters on the feet should be
promptly dressed during halts. At the
end Of the march feet should be bathed
and dressed; the socks, and if practi-
cable the shoes, should be changed
Qnfantry Drill Regulations, paragraph
627.)
You will learn in time the practical
rules for taking care of your feet that
are followed by experienced soldiers.
You will avoid considerable discomfort
however, if you learn some of these
rules now and put them into practice
from the very beginning.
I. See that your shoes are large
enough. They will at first look and
feel unnecessarily loose. This is need
ed because it has been found that feet
swell and lengthen on marches, espec-
tally when carrying packs. But shoes
fitted this way will give you no corns.
bunions, blisters, or other foot ills.
In fact, they will cure any that you
may already have
2. Take pains to keep your shoes in
good condition. 1t is a good idea to
apply light coat of neat's-foot oil,
which will both soften the leather
and tend to make them waterproof.
Don't neglect to smooth out wrinkles
in the lining of the shoe. Break in"
new shoes before wearing them on |
long marches.
g. Wear light wooden socks, such as
will be issued to you. See that you
have no wrinkles in them. If hole |
has been worn and can not be mend
ed at once. change the sock from one :
foot to the other so that your foot will !,
not be irritated more than is neces-
sary.
4. Keep your feet, socks, and shoes
clean. When on the march try to wash
your socks at night and put on a clean
pair every morning. Battle the feet
every evening, or at least wipe them off
with a wet towel
S. Keep your feet scrupulously clean. /
A foot bath can be taken, when other ]
facilities are not at hand, by scraping
a small depression in the ground,
throwing poncho over it and pouring
water into this from your canteen. !,
Even a pint of water will do for foot
bath. You can bath all over by MAX
ing or finding a depression of suitable !.
size and using your poncho as for !,
foot bath.
6. Keep your toe nails trimmed close :;
y and cut them square across the ends
This will tend to prevent improving
fails. BY all means avoid the COM
non error of rounding the corners of :
he nail and cutting it to point in
he center
z. In case blister is formed while !,
)n the march, open the edge of the bis ),
er with the point of knife or needle :,
hat has been heated in a match flame.
Be sure to queeze all the fluid out of
he blister To leave any in it may
make It worse. Do not pull off the ;,
oose skin but press it back Then :
nut on an adhesive plaster, covering
he skin well beyond the edges of the
lister, putting it on as tightly as pos :
ible without wrinkles In the same
ny red or tender spots.
8. In case any tendons become in =
AIMED or swollen Casually due to lac 7
lg the logging or shoe too tightly or
, some other unnecessary pressure)
oak the foot in Geld water, massage
lie tendon, and protect it as much as
0ssible by strips of adhesive plaster
GU should report to medical officer
your first opportunity to make sure ~
lat the trouble does not grow worse.
One sign of a green soldier is his
ndency to drink too much water while
/ a long march. The experienced
an gargles his mouth and throat once
while, but drinks only in sips
d does not overload his stomach
tn either food or water.
After you have arrived in camp and