The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-29
ARMY life PUTS
BOYS IN SHAPE
Former WeakIings Now Have
Muscles Like a Black
smiths Apprentice.
INJURED 10 ALL HARDsH|Ps
Outdoor Work and Proper Food Make
Huskies Of Them-Army Doctors
Continually on Watch for
Health Of Men.


Continually on Watch for
Health Of Men.
With the American Armies in
France.-Whether he used to be frail
or strong, the doughboy is becoming
one Of the huskiest chaps on this side
Of the line. War agrees with the
American boy, judging from the solid,
healthy-looking specimens you see
trudging up and down the lines and
holding them.
1t is a series Of surprises you have
with the American army, continually
meeting some husky whom you hardly
recognize because back in the States
he was shat frail little William
Jones'" Under Uncle Sans care he
has grown shoulders Of a football
player, and he marches on a pair of
legs twice as stout as they used to be,
and you couldn't call him William If
you had to--his only name is Bill, now
that he has joined the heavyweight
class.
Despite the fears Of the family for
the boy, 1t has done him good to join
up In Uncle Sans army. His present
healthy condition is due to a. number
of causes, not the least Of which is the
physical training he has undergone to
enable him to stand hardship. The chap
who couldn't take gymnasium at high
school because he had weak heart
has become dOughboy who thinks
nothing of marching all night with
pack on bis back and then standing
guard next day.
Strong as Blacksmlths.
Outdoor work almost continually
and being tired enough at the end Of
the day to drop down and sleep any
where, has been just the thing to in
ure the boy to hardships. He is out
not only in summer when it is pleas
ant, but in rain and wind, and his life
has made him hard and rugged, and
far better man physically than when
he came to France. Jogging up and
down roads on an artillery caisson, or
handling huge truck, has sven the
former drug clerk muscles like those
Of the blacksmith's apprentice.
The kind Of food he has had to eat
has been encouraging, too. Good solid
Chow" like beef, beans, potatoes and
bread, make man-power, and they
have lots Of "chow" in the American
army. 1t Is served up at regular in
tervals, and it builds muscles in the
soldiers arms and legs and makes him
have broader, better filled-out shout
ders. They have dessert, too, in this
mans army, but instead Of the pies
and cakes Of peace days, it is rice pud-
ding, or canned fruit.
Then the boy keeps pretty good hab-
Its with. the army here in France, ex-
cept for his night hours, which he be-
comes accustomed to-, and which he
makes up with sleep in the daylight
hours when Germans could see him If
he worked. The means of going even
On mild "tears" are not at the dough-
boys disposal In the army, and any
way he Is too busy beating the Ger
mans to think about anything but his
work, situation which is helpful to
his state Of mind, as well as his body.
He Is learning good living and clean
habits In the army.
Doctors on Lookout.
Then there are those army doctors
who are continually watching to nip
in the bud that might break
down health Of the men. A good foot
ball team in training never averaged
higher In medical attention than Uncle
Sans fighters. Inspection takes place
ever so often, and is careful. The men,
they are entitled to treatment
freely, report sooner for attention,
Dentists are far more popular than
they used to be, as well as doctors.
Even the chaps who are sent back
10 hospitals gain by the deal, despite
the popular belief. BY far the larger
number Of men In hospitals have mere
y temporary disabilities.
Tho army hospitals run on one basis,
hat Of making "a man better for serv-
Ice than he was before. OF course
here are men who must go back home |
after their hospital sojourns, but with |
he exception Of few cases, they too |
cave hospitals in healthier condition |
han they were In, when they Joined
he army
The reason is this: Every means Of
'cience is used freely to find out what
Ills the d0ughboy who enters the hos
,ital, and before he leaves every means
Known to cure him has been tried.
There is no question Of cost or whether
,r not he wants to take the treatment.
ae gets it-which is important, say
physicians, since an enormous amount
# disability in civilians Is allowed to
Increase, because of antipathy Of many
PEOPLE to medical treatment.
The soldier who arrives at a hos
,ital Is practically certain to get an
S-ray examination all over, unless his
rouble is a mere scratch and he is
III right otherwise. If anything ails
lin, the medical men find 1t out, and