The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-11-29
ARMY LIFE PUTS
BOYS IN SHAPE
Former WeakIinus Now Have
Muscles Like a Black
smiths Apprentice.
INJURED TO ALL aARDsHIPs
Outdoor Work and Proper Food Make
siuskIes of Thena--Army Doctors
Continually on Watch for
Health OF Men.

Health OF Men.
With the American Armies In
France Whether he used TO be fraii
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 series of surprises you have
with the American army, continually
meeting some husky whom you hardly
recognize because back In the States
he was "that frail little William
Jones'" Under Uncle Sans care he
has grown shoulders Of football
player, and he marches on pair Of
legs twice MS stout as they used to be,
and you couldn't Gull him William tt
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. it 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
ef:lbie him to stand hardship. The chap
who couldn't take gymnasium at high
school because he had weak heart
has become ii doughboy who thinks
nothing of marching all night with Ii
pack on his back and then standing
guard next day.
Strong as Blacksiniths
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 lis out
not only In summer when ii is pleas
ant, but in rain and wind, and his life
has made him hard and rugged, and Il
far better man physically than WHEN
he came to France. Jogging up and
down roads on an artillery caisson. on
handling a huge truck. has given the
former drug clerk muscles like those
Of the blacksmith's apprentice.
The kind of food he has had to eat
has heen encouraging, too. Good solid
''cilow," like beef, beans, potatoes and
bread, make man-power, and they
have lots of 1chown in the American
army. IT is served up at regular in
teryals. and ii builds muscles in the
soldiers arms and legs and makes him
have broader, better filled-0ut shoule
ders. They have dessert. too, La this
mans army, but instead of the pies
and enkes of peace days, it is rice pud-
ding. or canned fruit.
Then the bQy keeps pretty good hab.
It's 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 II
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, Il 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
anything 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.
knowing they are entitled to treatment
freely, report sooner for attention.
Dentists are far more popular than
they used to be. as we'll as doctors.
Even the chaps who are sent back
to hospitals gain by the DEAL despite
the popular belief. By far the larger
number of men in hospitals have mere
ly temporary disabilities.
The army hospitals run On one basis,
that of making Il man better for serv-
ice than he was before. Of course
there are men who must 60 back home
after their hospital sojourns, but with
the exception of few cases, they too
leave hospitals In healthier condition
than they were in when they Joined
the army
The reason Is this: Very means OF
science is used freely to fiId out what
ails the doughhoy who enters the hos.
pital, and before he leaves every means
known to cure him has been tried
There Is no question Of cost or whether
or not he wants. to take the treatment
He gets (which Is important, say
physicians, since an enormous amount
of disability in civilians is allowed tC
increase, because Of antipathy of many
people to medical treatment.
The soldier who arrives at q hos
pital Is practically certain to get an
X-ray examination all over, unless his
trouble is a mere scratch and he il
all right otherwise. IL anything ails
him, the medical men find it out. and
they go right after the ailment dit onre
Thus the soldier who came in to gai
his appendix removed may have his
lungs treated. his teeth fixed and his
flfsaf ear fsnpr9fed Ylnan and syaat;n Tnrl