Evening journal., 1917-08-24
LESSON No. S.
. MARCHING AND CARE OF FEET.

s u AM IlNW AND AAhL w TILL
preceding Lessons; 1. Your Post Of
Honor 2. Making Good as a Sol
der. 3. Nine Qualties Of a Sol
dier 4 Getting Ready for Camp.
g. First Days in Camp. g. Cleanl-
ness in Camp. Z. Your Health)
The new soldier seldom under
sands how important II is for him
10 learn 10 march and TO develop his
muscles so that he can easily carry
his arms and equipmen.. Marching
constitutes the principal occupation
Of troops IN campaign" Infantry
Drill Regulations, paragraph 623)
Modern trench warfare in Europe has
for the time being reduced the
amount Of marching required In
campaign; We, it remains just as i'm
portant an element in the soldiers
training as It ever was.
In order to march for long dis
tances the soldiers feet must be I'm
good condition. AS has been aptly
remarked, "he infantryman's feet
are his means of transportation. ."
Special attention should be paid TO
the fitting Of shoes and the care o.
the feet. Marching shoes should be
quite a little larger than shoes for
ordinary wear. Sores and blisters
on the feet should be promptly dress
ed during halts At the end OF the
march feet should be bathed and
dressed; the socks, and II practicable
the shoes should be changed" I'm
fantry Drill Regulations. paragraph
627)
You will learn in time the practi-
cal rules for taking care of your feel
that are followed by experienced sol
diers You will avoid considerable
discomfort, however. If you learr
some OF these rules now and pu
them into practice from the very be
ginning.
/. See that your shoes are larg'
enough. They will al first look an,
feel unnecessarily loose. This is need
ed because it has been found tha
the feet swell and lengthen ol
marches. especially when carryinl
packs But shoes fitted this wa,
will give YOU no corns. bunions. blist
ers, or other foot ills In fact. the.
VIII cure any that you may alread.
have
Q Take pains to keep your shoes n
good condition 10 is a good ide
TO apply a light coat Of neats-foo
oil which will both soften tn
leather and tend TO make the1
waterproof Don't neglect tossmootl
out wrinkles in the lining OF IN
shoe Break in" new shoes befor
wearing them on long marches
3. Wear light wooden socks. sue
as will be ISSUED to you See that yo
have no holes or wrinkles I'm then
IF a hole has been worn and ca
not be mended at once change tn
sock from one foot to the other s
that your foot will not be irritate
more than IS necessary.
4. Keep your feet. socks. and shoe
clean. When on the march try o
wash yOtr socks at night and put o
a clean pair every morning Bath
the feet every evening. or at leal
wipe thdm of with a wet towel
g. Keep your feet scrupulousl
clean. A foot bath can be take
when other facilities are not Z
hand. by scraping a small depressio
in the ground. throwing a ponch
over T. and pouring water INTO IN
from your canteen. Even a pint ,
water will do for foot bath. Yo
can bathe all over by making or fin'
ing a depression Of suitable size an
using your poncho as for foot bat
6. Keep your toe nails trimmC
closely and cut them square acrol
the ends. This will tend 10 prevei
ingrowing nails BY all means avo
the common error Of rounding q
corners of the nail and cutting
10 a point in the center.
Z. In case a blister is formed whi
on the lnarch. open The edge Of Il
blister with the point Of knife or
needle that has been heated in
match flame. Be sure 10 squee
all the fluid out Of tho bliser.