The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-11-21
ARMY LIFE PUTS
BOYS IN SHAPE
Former WeakIings Now Have
Muscles Like a Black
smiths Apprentice.
INJURED TO ALL HkUDSHIps
Outdoor Work and Proper Food Make
Huskies Of Them--Army Doctors
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.
II 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 that 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 us 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, il 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 his back and then standing
guard next day.
Strong as BIaeksmiths.
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 ii 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 given 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" I'm the American
army. 1t is served up mt regular in
tervals. and il 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, il 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 IL
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
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 well 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 a man better for serv-
ice than he was before. OF course
there are men who must go back home
after their hospital sOjourns, but with
the exception of few cases, they too
leave hospitals in healthier condition
than they We're in when they Joined
the army
The reason is this: Every means OF
science is used freely TO find out what
ails the doughbOy who enters the hos
pital, and before he leaves every means
known 10 cure him has been tried.
|. There is no question of cost or whether
or not he wants to take the treatment.
lie gets (which is important, say
physicians, since an enormous amount
of disability In civilians is allowed to
increase, because of antipathy of many
people TO medical treatment.
The soldier who arrives at IA hos
pital is practically certain 10 get AN
N-ray examination all over, unless his
trouble is a mere scratch and he Is
all right otherwise. III anything ails
him. the medical men find IL out, and
they go right after the ailment at once.
Thus the soldier who came In to get
his appendix removed may have his
lungs treated. his teeth fixed and his
deaf ear operated upon and made per
feet. He is "a decidedly better human
being for his hospital experience.