His Excellency's Order, to the several Colonels of the Army, concerning provision of Quarter, Diet, Physic and Attendance for the sick Soldiers of their several Regiments.  
WHereas I am informed, that for want of putting things into order, the sick Soldiers in your Regiment are not provided for, neither can be ministered unto by the Physicians of the Army, for the recovery of them out of their several Diseases and Sicknesses: and forasmuch as it is necessary for the ends aforesaid, and for the equal and certain distribution of Medicines for their recovery, I have thought fit, and do hereby require, that you take care, that the sick Soldiers of your Regiments, be from time to time put into warm and good Quarters, and that you appoint one Officer of your Regiment, together with a Chirurgeon or Surgeon's Mate, and such other affistance as shall be thought necessary; and that you give the said Officer particular Instructions in writing, and authority to furnish the said sick persons so quartered as aforesaid, with warm and fitting Diet, suitable to their respective Diseases, such as the Physicians of the Army shall direct, and may be procured in this and the adjacent parts; and that such women and keepers of the said sick persons, be hired to attend and help the said sick persons, and provide their Diet, as are necessary. And you are further required to cause the pay belonging unto the said sick Soldiers out of their respective Companies to be delivered to the said Officer, or such as he shall appoint, for the providing Diet and other necessaries for the relief of the said sick Soldiers: And if it shall fall out, that the said Pay will not sufficiently provide for the necessities and other occasions, as aforesaid, upon Certiffcate of the same under your hand made to myself or the Major General, you shall have warrant for money to make a necessary supply for the ends aforesaid: And of any provisions that are in the Stores of the Army, upon certificate under your hand of the want thereof, your Officer aforesaid, or any other assigned by him, shall receive from time to time of the keepers of the Stores, a supply proportionable to the number of the sick Soldiers of your Regiment: And your Chirurgeon or Surgeon's Mate aforesaid, shall receive from the Apothecaries to the Army, a supply of such Medicaments in their custody, to the use of the Army, as by the Physicians of the Army shall be judged proper and proportionable for the said sick Soldiers.  
Given under my hand the seventh day of October, 1650. O. CROMWELL.   

Advice for Prevention and Cure of the FLUX.  
FOR preservation of Soldiers from the Flux now prevalent in the Army, because it is contagious, and the Disease communicated by infection from the ill Sent of the Sick, where many are together, as also in respect of the common cause of ill Diet, by bad Waters, and other drink they drink, and cold lodgings▪ care must be had to sever the Sick from the Whole.  
Those who can have Ale or Beer, may for prevention, mix some Rice with the Corn they brew withal, though but in a small quantity, and hang either beat of Iron as they are had from the Smith's Forge, or other old Iron, or gads of new Steel in a bag, or any way in the middle of the Vessel, a small quantity will serve divers Gallons, or else to quench some Iron or gads of Steel (of which there are some twelve dozen sent) in the drink before the drinking of it immediately: And so for Water when Ale or Beer is not to be had, and the drinking of Water first boiled with Rice is a good preservative. And because cold lodging, or the lodging of the common Soldiers on the ground cannot be well prevented, to such more especially a red strong Water (which is sent) the quantity of one spoonful mixed with their Drink, Ale or Water, I shall recommend from experience in former Camps, which also in some few drops, with a spoonful of broken or powdered Biscuit, is a good Breakfast, or a good Collation in the night for a Sentinel or Perdue, to preserve himself from cold, hunger, and danger of the Flux. And by way of prevention, there would be great care had of Biscuit, which even at Sea oftentimes by ill stowage & neglect in lying too close, and receiving moisture, doth beget a dry moulding on the superficies of it, which if not wiped off and well cleansed, doth cause by its offence to the bowels oftentimes great Fluxes: and to check that ill quality of the Biscuit, as also of ill Air and bad Water, the use of Garlic moderately taken, is of much force, either boiled in Milk when it may be had, or in Ale or Water, or roasted, or in small quantity raw. And where any Water can be had from a Spring where any Chalk is, that is the best Water to avoid this Disease, as also to make Medicines of for the Cure: In relation whereunto, there are some few Remedies sent, and such as rightly made use of, may be effectual: As first there is Conserve of Sloes, of which some small quantity may be mixed with all the Water, (where other drink is not to be had) warm or cold, even upon a march, strained out by pouring of the thin from thick, after it hath been well shaken together, even in a hat, where there is no cleaner nor better Vessel, and this may as often be used as thirst calleth for moisture: this Conserve may also be eaten in the substance to the quantity of a walnut, twice, or thrice, or oftener in a day.  
Secondly, Rice powder (so written upon, and having some other small mixture with it) may either be taken alone, a spoonful or two at once, twice or thrice a day, or with any other food, or with Beer, Ale, or Water, and especially with Milk and Water when that can be had.  
Thirdly, for the Flux, now frequent in the Army, I recommend this familiar Remedy, experimented in like Epidemical Fluxes; Take of the shave of new Deal board one handful, one spoonful of whole Cinnamon, of dry Balm (when it can be had, of which some store is sent) a quarter of a handful; boil these in an Ale quart, or some what more, of good Water, (with Milk when it may be had) to a pint; of this make three several draughts at 4. or 6. hours' distance.  
Fourthly, Take 3. or 4. spoonfuls of the red Water , in Ale or Milk, or Water, or alone, if the Sick be not much distempered with heat, once in 8. or 12. hours, for three or four times only.  
Fiftly, and more especially for those who are very weak and distempered, and want rest, there is sent a Cordial Electuary (one pot containing eight doses) to take one dose or eight part at night going to bed, and to wash it down with a little Water boiled, or at least strained with the powder of Rice flower , and this for two or three nights together, if need require, and in case of extremity.  
And these are such Remedies inwardly taken, as may be for common Soldiers where ever they fall sick, or stand well to preserve them in their march or cure them.  
Outwardly, if any Crabs or wild Apples come in their way, many Cobwebs which Scotland doth afford, and the powder of such Tobacco pipes as have been most used, Chalk mixed together with a little bruised Garlic, all of these, or as many as may be had, mixed with some of the red Water (twice formerly mentioned) or heat at fire, or cold, if fire be wanting, and applied to the belly, is a good remedy, with which also some of the powder written upon The astringent powder may be mixed, adding the whites of Eggs when they can be had.  
To sit over the fume of Ginger is very useful, and where there is very often and great provocation to stool, use the Red Water to moisten the fundament, and put up a cloth wet in it as a Suppository.  
Where Mutton may be had, and the looseness hath long continued, Take the kidney of a Mutton, fat and all, cut it small, boil it with a little Cinnamon in a pottle of Water to a quart, drink of this strained at the least twice a day. This also where it can be made may be used before the Disease hath so long continued, and adding a crust of Biscuit, or some Rice, may be taken in stead of other broth, adding a few corns of white Pepper.  

Advice concerning Diet in Fluxes and Fevers.  
FOR the sick of the Flux, let four parts of Wheat, and one part of Rice if it may be had, be boiled in such a proportion of Water, as, after the Wheat is become very soft, even to a Jelly, may make it of the consistence of ordinary Gruel: Then take Nutmegs and cinnamon, of each two parts, of Cloves one part; let them be beaten and mixed together; and at the end of the boiling, as aforesaid, put in, and stir together so much of these Spices, as may be tasted or give a relish; and no more: Put in also at the same time, to every Gallon, half a pint of red Wine, with two ounces of Sugar dissolved in it.  
The like may be made of powdered Biscuit; or of Bread thin sliced, boiled in Water to the consistence of the former, and seasoned with Spice, red Wine and Sugar, in proportion aforesaid.  
Of these Diets may be given a Porringer full to a man, two or three times a day, or oftener, as the Stomach doth require or bear it.  
Eggs, when they may be had, are very good Diet in this Case, whereof also sometimes may be given one at a time raw, beaten in a Porringer, and mixed with a spoonful of red Wine, a little Nutmeg and Sugar.  
Those who have stronger stomaches to bear it, may take fat Mutton broth, with store of knuckles, and broken bones, as also Kidneys with the Suet boiled in it: and they may be allowed to eat the meat, if they have appetite thereto.  
For variety likewise; Puddings of Wheat flower or meal, with Suet, and the Spices aforesaid, well boiled or baked: as also flower or meal of Wheat, boiled up to a good confistence with Milk or Water, and a little Spice (care being had by continual stirring, to prevent burning to) which may be eaten with a little good Butter, if it be to be had; may be allowed those of stronger stomaches and appetites,  
It would be also of great advantage, if all Beer given in this Disease were first boiled with whole Biscuit, and Nutmegs thin cut, of each one to a Gallon, which may after be drunk cold: and the Biscuit so boiled and soaked till it be tender, is a good nourishment in this case, disposing the less to thirst.  
For those that have higher Fevers with their Fluxes, the Spice may be omitted in the Diets before prescribed, and it may do well to take Barley prepared, in stead of Wheat, either alone, or rather with Rice (if it may be had) in the proportion aforesaid.  
The Drink in this case, may be Water boiled with whole Biscuit, adding of red Wine half a pint or somewhat more to every Gallon, and the Biscuit, after soaking, may also be eaten.  
For such as have Fevers without Fluxes, Barley Gruel well boiled in a great quantity of Water, to to the ordinary consistence, and seasoned with white or Claret Wine and Sugar (taking to every Gallon, half a pint of the Wine, and about two ounces of the Sugar) would be a good Diet: as also Oatmeal Gruel sometimes for variety.  
For Drink in extreme heat and thirst, Barley water, with a little Sugar (about two ounces to a Gallon at least) and so much spirit of Vitriol, or Vinegar for want thereof, as may give a pleasant tartness, would be very proper and advantageous.    
FINIS.