The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-12
Army MedcolDepartment
Makes Study Nev Diseases

Washington, May l1.-Prepara-
items for safeguarding the health OF
american soldiers III Europe include
exhaustive Strdies by officers OF the
army nsdicll department oi new
diseases or those previously known
which are iound to be more prevail
elt i'll the army than i'll civil lie.
None has attracted more atten-
tion than trench foot" the sub
jcct OF bulletin issued from the
Office OF the surgeon general pre-
Scnting the conclusions of proni-
nent men who have investigated the
malady in France.
Although the disease is a pro-
nounced accompaniment OF trench
warfare, its genesis is referable pri-
marily to cold. Among the predis-
posing factors, curiously enough. is
the excessive use of tobacco, it is
asserted. which paralyzes the nerve
ends OF the vasomotor nerves,
other factors being lack OF acclima-
tization to cold, enfeebled circula-
ton, under-nourishment and loss OF
sleep.
Fundamentally, trench foot is
nothing but frost bite, aggravated
by war conditions. As the feet be-
gin to swell, there is pain around
the ankles or in parts OF the leg
where circulation is not stopped.
Patients obtaining treatment in the
early stages OF the disease soon lose
the numbness OF their limbs and the
normal color returns. Where treat
ment is delayed and the case is ag-
gravated by tight shoes or putteeS,
the feet may have dead, gan
grenous appearance. Mild cases are
cured in three weeks. while severe
cases may require amputation.
THE mechanical pressue due to
tight puttees, leggins and shoes is a
large causative factor" warns the
bulletin. That crime against COM
mon sense, the spiral puttee, shrink
ing. as it does, as much as one
sixth of its length when wet. espe-
cially has had many victims ~
The methods of lumber-jacks in
the Northwest, VINO wear oversize
boots and shoes and carefully dry
their stockings at every opportun-
Iity, were cited as excellent preven-
ton. Nr ~Na+>S ~
20 The virtually important consider
alton in treatment of trench foot is
said to be precaution that the feet
should not be too suddenly warmed.
All the experience OF the foreign
armies was summed up in few
words:
Keep the feet as warm and dry
as possible; keep good blood circu-
lating in them if overchilling does
occur, re-establish circulation slow
ly and not by warm applications.
ys5ssssa5, 5,---'s~~ - &aaessssss.ssrsg
8 Washington May l1.-One hun
dred thousand hospital beds will be
available for American soldiers
when the construction program now
in*progress under the supervision
OF the Army Medical Corps is COM
pleted. Latest reports to Surgeon
General Gorgas show that 62,959
beds now are ready in National
army and National Guard base hos
pitals, embarkation, military and
civilian hospitals included in the i'll
stitutions in charge of the corps.
This total will be increased by
more than 40 per cent. s<s:..ssssias:ase
~ s..ssyisssspt -s-'syf, - -saassssSs -saass.sssSss
q Amsterdam, April lS.-(By MaiD.
Having already claimed Shakespeare
as German, the Berlin newspapers
have now discovered that Napoleon
Bonaparte was also one of them.
The claim to Napoleon is put for
ward on the authority OF a Prussian
anthropologist, Prof. Otto Hauser,
who notes among other proofs y
that Napoleon had blue eyes and
cinder- hair. which are called
characteristics of the German race"
Napoleon's patronymic, he adds, was
"Cadolinghi,' taken from the Ger
man word kadeling, and his mother
belonged to the Ranollni. which Is
a debasement OF Rammelein, an es-
sentially German name ,fesesiss
p ryz .ss1A FSsT,T'
London. April lS.-(By MaiD.-
There have been many instances i'll
England of airplane fatalities from
two planes coliding in the air, but
the first case on record in which
three airplanes were involved in a
single collision occurred about 800
ieet above ground. and all three fly
ing men were killed. s.sr;.is.,ssssis
London, April lS.-(By MaiD.-
Exemption from military service
has been refused man with II chill
dren, one OF whom is with the col
ors. The drafted man has four
D-.,,-t,