Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-10-23
HOW UNCLE SAM TAKES CARE
VI his boys--Surroundings Sanitary
best None Too Good for Them.

lected for military service, the i'm
mediate anxiety, the immediate con-
cern' Is his destination, his housing,
feeding, clothing and health.
The new soldier is under the d.
rection Of the Provost Marshal Gem
erals department from the time he
IS accepted until he takes train for
the camp he is assigned to. Then
the transportation department takes
MIN IN charge. If his journey Is a
long one he travels by Pullman or
tourist sleeper. Means are provided
to him along the way, at a maximum
cost of 60 cents, by the government.
Under recent ruling the selected
man is Immediately given an arm
band. This is an insignia of military
standing and Is worn until he is fitted
with uniform. The arm-band car
rios the same authority, protection
and responsibility that the uniform
does, The enemy would have the
right to fire upon him. or to make
him prisoner, and any one selling
him liquor would be subject to pro-
secution under the Federal laws.
Arriving at his cantonment the
soldier is assigned to quarters-usu-
ally two-story wooden building,
with plenty of air and sunlight, and
with the cleanest Of foors-foors
that would meet with the old-time
test, "clean enough to eat from" He
sleeps in a well-ventilated room
with other soldiers, but not too
many, the number being regulated
by the cubic feet of air space in the
chamber. The army bed is an extra
width cot with good steels springs
and bedding suited to the weather
and climate. Never less than two
blankets are assigned him-all-wool
blankets, khaki color. Sometimes
he gets three blankets and two thick
comforterS more if weather condi-
tions demand.
LavatOries are located at the rear
OF these quarters, with water pres
sures and fixtures Of design similar
to that used in the best hotels in the
country, and for every company unit
there are from four to six shower
baths. Cleanliness of person and
surroundings are absolute REQUIRE
ments Of the United States army.
Every possible precaution is taken
by the sanitary corps to insure that
the camp conditions are 100 per cent
sanitary.
Drainage is installed along strictly
scientific lines, and the most scien-
t1fic disposition is made OF all camp
sewage. During previous wars more
men have died from preventable dis
ease than from bullet wounds. Dur
ing the Civil War soldiers perished
by thousands from typhoid, camp
fever, dysentery and kindred dis
eases resulting from unsanitary con-
ditions about the camp. Those days
are gone. Surgeon Gen. Gorgas, no
made the building of the Panama
Canal possible by draining the Canal
Zone and fitting 1t for human habi-
S~~'oAA' % Al ShoA 80 VI IHc dTNy Sdul-
tation
AS soon as the soldier Is assigned
to quarters he is given the most
searching physical examination. All
scientific medictl tests are applied to
detect disease. For instance, If there
are indications Of tubercular infec-
tion, the patient Is put under obser-
>Vation. that there may be no mis-
take IN the diagnosis. If there Is
incipient trouble he is sent to one
of the army sanitariums and re-
stored to health. If his case Is ad-
vanced he Is relieved from military
service or exempted until physically
flt,
Besides the examining surgeon
there Is the dentist. Teeth are put
in good condition here, and there
are dentists overseas to keep them in
good condition. Also there is an or
thopedic surgeon to examine the SOL
dier's feet. 1t has been said that
during the past wars there were more
desertions from foot trouble than