iiBiiBiiBiiBiiBtiaiiaMaiiaiifliiaiiBiiaiiBiiBiiaiiaiiaiiiiiaiiBiiaiiaiiaiiBii PREPARATION - - FOR » * I Field Service. I BY JOHN BORDMAN, JR. , | Capt. Mass. Heavy Artillery. m \ I PRICE TWENTY=FIVE CENTS. - ^ laiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiBiiaiiaiiaiiBiiiiiiiiBiiaiiaiiaiiaiiiiiam'iiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiiiiaiiaiiiiiiiiBiiaiiaiiaiiaiiBiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiiaiia # learning anb Tabor. LIBRARY University of Illinois. CLASS BOOK. VOLUME. '&v~ ? a.'TA. Accession No. PREPARATION FOR -BY- JOHN BORDMAN, JR., Capt. Battery A, 1st Regt. Heavy Artillery, M. V. M. COMPILER OF Drill Manual” for Non-Commissioned Officers: “Guard Manual” for Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates ; “ Submarine Mines, their Attack and Defense.” BOSTON, MASS 1898. ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON, D. C. BY JOHN BORDMAN, JR. 1898. McClurg. CONTENTS. Page I. Military Hygiene.5 II. Marches. 9 II. Camps and Bivouacs .... 10 V. Rations and Cooking .... 14 •j V. Hasty Intrenchment.18 O —.VI. First Aid to Injured ..... 22 Drill Manual for Non-Commissioned Officers—30 Cal. Manual adapted to 45 t_al. A complete instructor for Non-Commissioned Officers. Used in Non-Commissioned Officers’ Schools, Examinations for Warrants, Preparation for Inspections, etc. Single copies, 27 cents; per dozen, $2.92; 25 or more, 20 cents each, f. o. b. Manual of Arms —30 Cal. Manual adapted to 45 Cal. as authorized by War Department, for use in Volunteer Companies, Schools, Colleges, Boys’ Brigades, etc. Single copies, 16 cents; per dozen, $ 1.25. Guard Manual for Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates. A complete Manual of Guard Duty, including also Outposts and Reconnoitring Patrols. Single copies, 21 cents; per dozen, $2.10; 25 or more, 18 cents each, f.o.b. Submarine Hines —Their Attack and Defense, in¬ cluding Boat Patrols. A Manual for Heavy Artillery and Harbor Defense. Single copies, 16 cents ; per dozen, 1.58; 20 or more, ro cents each. Insignia of Rank —Plates illustrating Shoulder Knots, Straps and Overcoat Sleeve—4 pp.—much used for dis¬ tribution among Recruits. 1 cent each; 25 copies, r5 cents; 50 copies, 25 cents; roo copies 40 cents. Price must invariably accompany the order. No books will be sent C. O. D. Address and make Money Orders payable at Concord Junction, Mass. JOHN BORDMAN, JR. Capt. Batty “A ” 1st H. Art., M. V. M. FPtE^A.RA.TXOISr FOR MILITARY HYGIENE. i. UNDERCLOTHING. The first thing to con¬ sider in preparation for service is naturally what to wear and how to wear or carry it. One thing can be laid down as a maxim—wear flannel next to the skin. Perspiration attaching itself to linen is a producer of fevers, and when wet with sweat linen affords no pro¬ tection to the body at all. The soldier wears no drawers, but they are really just as important as a shirt for the upper part of the body. With drawers folding well over the abdomen form, and a long shirt, a double fold of flannel over that important part is secured, and the necessity of a flannel belt or abdominal band is avoided. This belt of flannel should, however, be generally worn about the abdomen, as it will be much protection against those stomach diseases which are the scourge of armies in the field. The socks should be of worsted and be kept clean, and must perfectly fit the foot. This is one of the most important parts of the soldier’s dress, as any shortcoming here will destroy his usefulness as a 6 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. soldier and cause him endless suffering. The Germans fold pieces of'calico, previously smeared with lard, across the foot, but this is no better than a good sock kept clean. The shoes should be laced, strong and square-toed, and while giving the foot plenty of room should not be large enough to cause the foot to move about and chafe. Every man should be able to make substantial repairs to these important articles. 2. THE SOLDIER’S KIT. Beside what articles the soldier wears his kit should contain: two flannel shirts, one pair trousers, one pair shoes, three pairs worsted socks, two towels, one pair suspenders, hair comb, fine tooth comb, knife, fork, spoon, mess-tin and cover, piece soap, sponge, razor and case, shaving brush, clothes brush, box of blacking and blacking brush, housewife (containing thread, needles, wax, waxed ends, buttons, etc.), extra shoe laces, and a pipe and tobacco. An officer’s equipment and valise should contain the following articles: Carried or Worn on Person , Woollen socks, drawers, flannel shirt, silk pocket handkerchief, clasp-knife, drinking cup and water-bottle, pocket-book, field-glass with compass, watch, haversack and mess-kit, and a map of the country. Carried in Valise, Great-coat, blanket, pair trousers, pair boots, six extra boot laces, two pairs woollen socks, pair drawers, flannel shirt, silk handkerchief, woollen night-cap, two towels, traveling case (contain¬ ing comb, hair brush, tooth brush, scissors, soap box PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 7 and clothes brush), housewife, portfolio (containing pen, ink and paper), journal book, woollen abdominal band, cotton bandage, candle lamp with a few candles, tin match-box with sulphur matches, a rubber basin, salt and pepper boxes. 3. THE HEALTH. The preservation of the health is the soldier’s first consideration. Everything depends on cleanliness, and its want is a primary source of disease in war. Very soon the person and clothes get covered with lice; all garments, outer as well as inner, get impregnated with sweat and become filthy. These things cannot be helped, but their evils can be lessened. The hair should be cut short. In the absence of water for washing, the best plan is the small tooth comb, to keep the hair free from vermin. Clothes can be partially cleaned by drying and beat¬ ing. Washing should be done as frequently as pos¬ sible. Shirts may be cleaned in this way: The soldier should wear one and carry one ; every night he should change, hang up the one he takes off to dry, and in the morning beat it out and shake it thoroughly. In this way much dirt is got rid of. He should then carry this shirt in his pack during the day and substitute it for the other at night. 4. BATHING. If the camp is stationary for even a week endeavors should be made to provide a washing place for the men, and they should be encouraged to wash all over in cold water. This is not onlv bracing and invigorating, but it strengthens the body against vicissitudes of weather and against dysentery. It is 8 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. of the utmost consequence that the feet should be washed frequently. Bathing should, however, be avoided soon after meals or when a man is very fatigued or in a profuse perspiration. 5. YELLOW FEVER. I will end this section with a few words in regard to that scourge of warm climates—yellow fever. Yellow fever is entirely dis¬ tinct from malaria. In the United States it has never been found above 700 feet in altitude; in Cuba, with rare exceptions, the same ; in Jamaica it has been found as high as 4200 feet. It frequently occurs in non- malarious places. It is connected with putrefying animal matter. The agent or poison which causes the fever is portable, can be carried and introduced among a community and is increased in the bodies of those whom it attacks. Heat and excessive humidity are two chief factors in the production of an epidemic. Its cause is evidently connected with the accumulation of excreta round habitations, and overcrowding. Every precaution should be taken that the evacuations of men are carefully covered up. 6. PREVENTIVES. Excretions and vomit of sick men should be burned ; good ventilation secured ; when recently arrived in hot climate avoid fatigue, especially when combined with exposure to sun ; avoid drinking and any improper food of any kind which lowers the tone of the body. Quinine is quite useless. Little can be done to avert internal causes, except care in not undergoing great fatigue, temperance, and proper food. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 9 MARCHES. The greater portion of the ordinary soldier’s service during a campaign is spent in marching. Six hours are usually spent on the march to get into a position to fight fifteen minutes. Thus it is that most of the soldier’s discomfort comes from the march, and every effort should be made to prepare for the fatigue and reduce its discomfort. Among the conditions adding to the fatigue are heat, thirst, constant halts from obstructions, want of food, bad weather—especially head winds with rain. 1. HEAT. For heat, green leaves or a wet cloth carried in the cap is a relieving measure. 2. THIRST. Thirst may be retarded by carrying a small pebble in the mouth. Soldiers should also be taught to refill the canteens with good water whenever practicable. If water is decidedly bad it should be boiled with tea and the cold tea drunk. Exhausted tea leaves, if’well boiled in water, will give up a little more tannin and coloring matter and will have a good effect. If a soldier would do this after his evening meal, the water would be ready for the next day’s march. Soldiers should be especially taught that there is danger in drinking turbid or muddy water, which they will often do when overcome with thirst, as all sorts of suspended matters may be gulped down, even animals and small leeches. Alum will carry suspended matter in water to the bottom. IO PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 3. EXHAUSTION. When a man falls out on the march he will be found partially fainting, with cold, moist extremities, a profuse sweat everywhere, the pulse is very quick and weak—often irregular—the respiration often sighing. 4. TREATMENT. The weights should be re¬ moved, clothes loosened, the man laid on the ground, cold water dashed on face and water given to drink in small quantities, if the syncope or collapse is very alarming brandy must be used as the only way of keeping the heart acting, but a large quantity is dangerous. CAMPS AND BIVOUACS. 1. SELECTION OF SITE. The selection of a camping ground is a matter of great importance as it has a direct influence on the health of the entire com¬ mand. The primary essentials of a good site are, of course, a well-drained and sheltered position, easy of access, with good supplies of fuel and water. But these are not all. There are other important features which must be avoided. A camp must never be made in a graveyard, but must be placed as far to windward of it as possible. Never camp on ground that has been camped on before—get to windward of it. Avoid newly ploughed ground. Avoid rivers with marshy banks and marshes of every description. If the camp must be near these, place it so as to have a hill or some rising ground or woods between the camp and them. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. II 2. WATER SUPPLY. The first thing to be done on arriving at the position of the camp is to protect the water supply. If this be a stream, the greatest care must be taken to prevent the men from washing clothes or bathing in it above the point where the drinking water is to be drawn. Water guards must be posted in any event at once upon halting. Two points should be immediately marked off; above the first, water for drinking and cooking is to be drawn ; between the two, horses and cattle are to be watered ; below the second, all washing and bathing is to be carried on. In the case of a stream, to prevent the water from becoming turbid, it will usually be necessary to project a pier into the current to obtain sufficient depth of water. The same object may be secured by arranging a float. In case the supply is from springs or driven wells, no water should be wasted, and the supply should be accu¬ mulated and made more accessible by a series of casks with connecting troughs. The probable location of water near the surface, in case of no visible supply, may be determined by watching for the early morning mists and observing the brighter green of the vegeta¬ tion. Wells driven in hopes of water should be at the outlet of long valleys, or best of all at the junction of two long valleys. 3. TENTS. The moment the tents are up, drain¬ age trenches, the width of the spade and four inches deep, should be dug around the outside of each and connected with others leading away from the line. Never dig out a tent floor, but in every case where it is 12 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. at all possible elevate it above the ground and provide for ventilation beneath. Tents should be struck at intervals of one week, and the ground beneath cleaned of any accumulation of dirt. 4. BIVOUACS. The same precautions should be taken in the selection of a site for the bivouac as the camp, but here the supply of fuel is more important as large fires to sleep near add much to comfort. Dry and sheltered positions should be selected. In tropical climates it is more pleasant at night to bivouac in the open. The bivouac is the soldier’s standard lodging and is not, on the whole, a hardship. Infantry, having wheeled into line and stacked arms, should sleep as they stand in ranks, officers sleeping on the inner flank. When in the immediate presence of the enemy, and a night attack is possible, or when it is necessary to begin your attack very early next morning, the men must remain accoutred. 5. PREPARATION OF GROUND. In preparing the ground, each man should scrape out a hollow for the hips. If time permits, shelter of some sort must be made, and any trouble bestowed now will prevent much discomfort during the early morning. Company offi¬ cers especially should be energetic in seeing that the sleeping place is made comfortable. Dry grass, shav¬ ings, young boughs, etc., may usually be collected and often will prevent one awakening some two hours before daybreak so chilled with the cold that he cannot get to sleep again. When time permits always raise the bed off the ground at one or both ends. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 13 6. SHELTER. A few logs of wood, sods or stones piled- up to windward afford good protection and add greatly to comfort. Circles about eighteen feet in diameter made with a bank three feet high about them form a comfortable bivouac. The earth, sods, etc., for the bank must always be taken from without the circle, never disturbing the soil within. The opening should be on the leeward side, and a fire built in the middle adds much to comfort. The men sleep here with their feet toward the center. Men sleeping together should always club their blankets so as to have one to sleep on, the other being over them. If there is time and material, shelter should be made by driving forked stakes in the ground, resting a pole upon them and then laying on branches to windward, thicker ends upward, tops of the branches upon the ground. Brush mats may be quickly woven if material affords. When one wakes in the morning the limbs feel a little stiff. Take a smart run and the blood will soon begin to circulate quickly and the body be warm. Officers should see that the men have something to eat before they begin work, no matter how early. A cup of hot coffee and a biscuit is a good morning meal before the regular breakfast. Bear in mind that the spirits of the men must be kept up, and if they are not well fed and sheltered the privation must soon tell on their disposition and temper, and the result can only be sickness and uselessness. Associate officers with the men in all their work and let the latter see the inte res taken in them. 14 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. RATIONS AND COOKING. Too much attention cannot be paid to the rations. Get them as varied as possible and see that no oppor¬ tunity is lost of buying vegetables. Get the men hot meals at every' opportunity. If preserved or cooked rations have been served and there is time they should be warmed or made into soup before being eaten. This is of great consequence after a long march or a day of hard fighting. 1. SPIRITS. Avoid spirits and indeed all alcoholic liquors. They neither give strength tp the body nor sustain it against disease. They are not protective against cold and wet, and aggravate rather than lessen the effects of heat. There is no evidence from a medi¬ cal point of view that they are protective against malaria or other disease. 2. MESSING. In our army the Buzzacott Field Oven is issued to troops and furnishes all utensils necessary for a large mess. This has not yet, however, stood the test of a long campaign, and experience else¬ where has shown the best system to be that of small messes of six or eight. Each mess then has a camp kettle and implements, which the members of the mess take turns in carrying. 3. FIELD OVENS. Upon halting in camp each mess prepares its own meal. Field ovens may be constructed in various ways. If fuel is plenty a simple trench in which the fire is built while the kettles are PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 15 suspended above from a bar resting upon forked stakes may suffice. If stones are plenty, two parallel lines may be laid a little less than the diameter of the kettles apart, in the same direction as the wind. The sides should be made tight with earth and the leeward end built up. When the kettles are placed upon this a good draft will be found for the fire. If the camp is not to be broken at once a number of these should be built to meet wind from various quarters. If stones are not to be found the same form may be secured by digging a trench of the like width and filling in between the kettles with turf. The draft will be improved by enlarging the windward end and building up a chimney at the rear. 4. FUEL. In the absence of wood, bones and many kinds of turf and dun may be used for fuel. Near the cooking-place a small filth hole should always be dug for all cooking refuse, potato peelings, etc. The old one should be filled up, well rammed down, and a new one dug, every two or three days. 5. WATER. As impure water is a great cause of sickness in war, the soldier should be taught how to recognize impurity and how to use the simple methods of purification with alum, charcoal and tea boiling. 6. COOKING. Too much attention cannot be paid to cooking. The different kinds of cooking to be taught are stewing, boiling, and making soup, making tea and coffee, cooking preserved vegetables, making cakes of flour, and oatmeal porridge. Dough may be mixed on a piece of canvas, on a rubber blanket, or in 16 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. a flour barrel or flour sack. Empty tomato cans, etc., can be used as vessels in which to draw tea, make coffee, etc. Men should always arrange to carry with them a small supply of food. In almost all marches with large bodies and in many actions there are long periods of inactivity during which they could eat food which has already been cooked, and the effect of eating upon the spirits at such a time is wonderful. 7. COFFEE AND TEA. Coffee is an important article of diet for soldiers because it is not only invigo¬ rating without producing subsequent collapse, but the hot infusion is almost equally serviceable against both heat and cold. It is also protective against malaria. Coffee must not be boiled. In order to get the full benefit, after the first lot has been poured off, the grounds should be saved. The next time coffee is made these should be well boiled in more water and then poured over fresh coffee and allowed to simmer. Tea, like coffee, is potent against both heat and cold, is useful in great fatigue, especially in hot climates, and has a great purifying effect on water. 8. RECIPES. The following recipes may be of use : Soup. The great error commonly committed in mak¬ ing this is in doing it too rapidly, which renders the meat hard and tasteless. Bone and scraps of meat should be collected in camp after every meal and put down to simmer for the next day’s soup. Slice onions and put them into fat which has been melted. Stir well and in five minutes add the meat which has been PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 17 cut into small pieces, and keep stirring five minutes longer; then add boiling water and let simmer for one hour ; mix flour with cold water, very smooth, and then add it to the soup with salt, pepper, sugar, and any other seasoning herb obtainable, and let the whole simmer for half an hour more. Irish Stew. Cut meat into small pieces and rub with salt, pepper and flour; place in boiler with some fat. Brown on both sides, and then add onions whole, and then potatoes ; add enough water to cower the potatoes; stew gently for two hours, keeping fire down and well covered during the cooking. Dumplings may be added. Salt Meat. Before cooking, as much salt as possible must be extracted. The best way is to let three or four pound pieces soak eight hours, or all night if possible, and then wash each piece with the hand. It is then ready for cooking. If less time is allowed, cut the pieces smaller, or parboil twenty minutes and then throw off the water and add more. Simmer gently three hours and serve. Vegetables or dumplings can be boiled with it. To prepare salt meat hurriedly, warm it slightly on both sides, then rinse it well in a pan of water. This extracts much salt and leaves the meat in a fit state for cooking. A Hurried Dinner. Cut your rations into pieces about the size of a silver quarter, but three or four times as thick. Skewer them on a piece of iron wire or stick, and a few minutes will suffice to cook them if hung before the fire. In cohclusion 1 would impress the necessity of saving every particle of salt with care. There is nothing i8 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. which is of greater help in making food agreeable, and without it vegetables and meat are often unpalatable. HASTY INTRENCH MENTS. The improvement in modern firearms has rendered the use of battle or hasty intrenchments probably in¬ dispensable, and the result is that what was formerly the exclusive province of the engineer must now be possessed by all. Arrangements for the defense of a given position must now be made by the troops who are to occupy it, and an army in the presence of an enemy will always fortify, whether in camp, in bivouac, or in line, Thus it is that all should be thor¬ oughly acquainted with the regulation types of cover, and that there should be no delay at critical moments through doubt as to the form required. It may be that the ground in action will afford natural cover sufficient for protection, but that will be the exception. The simplest and speediest form of shelter is that for skir¬ mishers lying down. i. SHELTER TRENCHES —LYING DOWN. In making this, a trench six feet wide is made, sloping from four inches deep at the end toward the enemy to ten inches at the rear. The soil thus excavated is thrown to the front where it should form a defense twelve inches high and thirty inches thick at the top. This should stop small arm projectiles, except when struck in the most favorable spot for penetration. The time required for its construction by one man with PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 19 large spade and pick is about fifteen minutes ; with small spade about twenty or twenty-five minutes. 2. KNEELING. For shelter to men kneeling or sitting in two ranks, the trench already dug is deep¬ ened to twenty inches front and rear, and making it but five feet wide. The additional material will make the front defense one foot and four inches high and about fifty-eight inches thick on top. The time re¬ quired is about thirty minutes, with a small spade about forty-five. If the troops are in single rank the trench need only be two and a half feet wide. 3. STANDING. Cover standing may be made by deepening the kneeling trench to four feet, leaving a step twenty inches and three feet wide next the front wall of the trench so as to facilitate the leaving of the trenches to the front and also to serve as a platform for men firing over the defense. The earth defense formed by the material thrown to the front should now be two feet high and five feet thick, and care should be taken to make the inner wall of the front defense as vertical as possible. This defense, working with the infantry spade, should be made in from one and a half to three hours, and this the form of shelter which should be made for isolated rifle pits allowing two paces of trench for each man. These trenches are but types—modifications must be made according to circumstances. When stones are encountered in digging they must be imbedded in the parapet and well covered with earth, as they splinter badly when struck by bullets or shrapnel fragments^ 20 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. Before deciding on the location for the trench, the eye should be placed at a distance above the ground equal to the height of the completed parapet in order to so locate the trench that every part of the ground in its front may be swept by its fire. When men are required to remain in the trenches for any considerable length of time they should be provided with splinter-proofs. Planks, old doors, etc., may be used, and in the absence of these, small poles. They should be laid with one end on the front defense and the other resting on the earth in rear of the trench, and then covered with two or three inches of earth. 4. ABATTIS. The object of all obstacles is defen¬ sive, or more exactly, the holding of the enemy under fire, while checking his advance and breaking up of his formation. They must be so arranged as to be within the range of the defender’s fire, and also so as to offer as litttle hindrance as possible to an advance from the side of the defense. They must be concealed as much as possible from the view of the assaulting party, and must be as difficult as possible of removal under fire. They must offer no shelter to the enemy. Abattis is an obstacle made of the interlaced and pointed branches of trees. The branches, about fifteen feet long and laid on the ground, butts to the rear, and all large branches pointed and interlaced. The branches are secured to the ground by forks, wire or by logs, laid over the butts. Abattis should be five feet high, and if more than one row is used, the branches of one ”ow should overlap the butts of the next one in front. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 21 It is most easily constructed, when conditions favor, by felling trees toward the enemy in such a manner as to leave the failen part still attached to the stump ; the branches are then pointed. 5. WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS. These are used for the same purposes as abattis, and are often used in connection with it to interlace branches. Wire en¬ tanglements proper are formed by driving eighteen inch stakes into the ground in rows six feet apart, the stakes of each succeeding row opposite the intervals of the row in front. The heads of the stakes are connected with stout wire wound around them. This is made more effective if the ground is left uncleared of brush. High wire entanglements are made in the same way, except that the stakes should be at least four feet high, and the head of each stake is connected with the foot of the stake diagonally opposite. 6. SHELTER. Shelter should always be used by the defense if they have opportunity to make choice of ’■ground. Every effort should be made to strengthen the position before an assault can be made. The use of head logs and loopholes is not to be encouraged too much, however, if it is desired to have the men ready to make a vigorous and prompt counter-offensive movement. 22 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. FIRST AID TO INJURED. On all outpost and detached duties, hours, if not days, may elapse before the services of a doctor can be procured. Thus every man should know how to care for himself or a comrade in cases of simple injuries. 1. BLEEDING FROM WOUNDS. This maybe from a vein or an arterv. From a vein it is seldom of much consequence and requires merely application of cold water and slight pressure of a bandage over the wound, or between it and the extremity of the wounded limb. The limb should be raised higher than the body. If unconscious from loss of blood, lay on the back with head level with the body, open clothes round the neck, and give a little stimulant. Bleeding from a vein may be known from the dark color of the blood. 2. BLEEDING FROM AN ARTERY. This may be known by the bright red color of the blood and by its spurting out in jets corresponding with the beats of the pulse. Unless stopped at once the man will d: ' To do this it is only necessary to compress the injured artery against the bone, between the wound and the body. Having placed the man as above, feel for the pulsating artery on the inside of the limb above the wound and apply a tourniquet, made by tying the handkerchief round the limb with a round stone or object over the artery, and twisted tight by means of a stick passed through the slack. This must be applied just above where the pressure of the fingers is found to control the bleeding. PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 23 3. LOCATION OF ARTERIES. The inside seam of the coat follows the general course of the arteries in the arm. In the leg the artery passes down inside of the thigh, winding round underneath to the hollow be¬ hind the knee. With wounds below the elbow or knee, apply pressure above those joints, If you cannot find the artery fill up the wound with some cotton or linen and bandage as tightly as you possibly can di¬ rectly over the wound. 4. SABRE WOUNDS. The edges of sabre wounds should be brought together and sewn or well secured with sticking plaster. 5. SORE FEET. Sore feet result from marching. They should be bathed in tepid water, having a few lumps of alum dissolved in it; if there are blisters they should be pricked but the skin must not be torn off. Previous to beginning the next day’s march the tender places should have soft soap applied to them, or any ^ort of grease, not salt. Whiskey or rum and water applied to the feet is the best preventive against blister. 6. POISONOUS SNAKE-BITES. A ligature of cord should be at once placed round the limb, between the bite and the body and kept, if possible, until the arrival of a surgeon. The flesh around the bite should be at once cut out with a knife, or sucked and bathed in warm water, and have ammonia applied freely.^ Stimulants should be freely given.. 24 PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. 7. BITES FROM CENTIPEDES, SCORPIONS, ETC., should be treated externally with ammonia and spirits used internally and externally. 8 . SUNSTROKES. Raise the head, open the coat and everything bearing on the throat and chest; if plenty of water is to be had keep up a stream of it on the head and upper part of the chest until consciousness is restored. In getting at a wound do not stop to undress the patient but slit the seams of the clothes if on the limbs. Remember in any event that the wounded part is to be undressed last and dressed first. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 061724479 ^7 V^MAo