The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-30
PROTECTING THE SOLDIERS
HEALTH.


HEALTH.
The war has scarcely come home to
this country as a reality as yet. We
have bought Liberty Bonds, subscribed
TO the Red Cross fund, read of the ar
rival Of our troops in France and dimlv
are beginning TO realize the tremendous
energies which this country is putting
into the struggle. But for most OF the
American people throughout the length
and breadth of this great land 1t has
not come as something directly affect
ing their everyday lives.
The first grim realization of war will
come home to every community, to a
large percentage OF individual homey
when the men drawn for the army ac-
tually march away to the camps In
which they will receive their prelim!
nary training. This is a big nation
but more than $4,000 of the pick of
our young men cannot be drawn away
without making their absence felt in the
home. in the church. in the office and
workshop. in every phase of life.
One Of the first questions which the
American people especially the mothers
Of the boys who are taken, will ask is:
"What provision will be made for cor.
serving the health Of our soldiers?"
No question could be more pertinent
The direct dangers from the enemy's
shot and shell must be endured-that is
war. II is the unnecessary tragedies
which bring bitterness and enduring
sorrow-the deaths and broken livcs
lost not through the deadly efficiency
Of the enemy, but by our own ineffic-
iency and carelessness. In past wars
the American record In this regard has
been a pitlable and tragical one The
loss by disease i'm the Spanish-American
war was twenty-one times the battle
loss: in the civil war, the struggle with
Mexico, the revolutionary war, it was
the same sad story disease claimed
far more victims than bullets.
Fortunately II is certain that this will
not be the case in the present tremen.
dous struggle. Medical science and ny
gienic and sanitary knowledge have
fAANhAAAfA AAA III Ath'AlA NfeANs AiANe
are being applied in the present war
with an intensity and on a scale never
before known. Today the healthiest
men in the world are the soldiers. Thu
amount of death caused by disease Is
amazingly small. The American gov.
ernment has not been behindhand in
this respect The most elaborate SAM.
tary and hygienIc precautions have
been adopted in the sixteen great can
tonments in which our soldiers will he
trained.
Great sums have been spent In as
suring abundant supplies Of pure drink.
ing water. In addition the men viii be
vaccnated against smallpox and ".
phoid. The government decided upon
wooden barracks for the reason that
the men would live under more health
full conditions and be better protected
against flies, mosquitoes and similar
pests than would be possible in canvas
shelters As a further protectlol
against flies and mosquitoes all open.
ings I'm the barracks. In the kitchens,
mess halls and sleeping quarters are to
be covered with galvanized wire.cloth
screens.
No soldier will suffer from lack OF
fresh air. In addition TO a continuous
row OF windows in the ends and side
walls OF the two-story shacks there
will be ventllators in the ceilings aud
roofs. There will be bath houses and
II is expected that the men will use
running water for bathing. The intend
ed supply mpacity is fifty.fve gallons
per man per day. The most careful
attention viii be given TO the question
OF sewage disposal The life itself un.
der sanitary conditions and with plenty
OF outdoor exercise. tends TO gooi
health. In addition every camp viii
have a full quota Of competent ply.
sicians Medical inspections will be fire.
quent and prompt attention win be
given to the first symptoms OF any
physical unfitness The army does not
"let things 60"
The experience OF our allies in French
English and especially Canadian camps
is being utilized by our government.
The Germans may take a toll OF our
troops, but Uncle Sam is determined
that disease viii not. as far as abun.
dant funds and unlimited energy and
efficiency can prevent.
DIR. JOHN w. DUKE.
Commissioner State Health Department.