THE SOLDIER'S HEALTH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 8

THE SOLDIER'S HEALTH

HOW TO KEEP FIT

HINTS TO TERRITORIALS

AN EXPERT'S ADVICE

"Keep fit! Most Territorials are interested in athletic sports, such as football, etc. New Zealanders have always held their own in such sports, and the reason for it is that they have trained and kept fit. They are asked now to koep lit for the honour of their Empire." The quotation is from the circular issued to troops of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who are about to proceed to the seat of waiv It is satisfactory to know that the health of the men in camp at present in Wellington is almost' perfect. Reports from the camps are highly satisfactory, and the open-air life that all have been living for the past seven weeks . has worked a great chango in the general health and appearance of tho men. Tho health of ■, the soldier on campaign is most important, and everything possible is being done to impress this upon the New Zealand soldiers before they leave. The experience in past campaigns has been that somewhere about three times as many are killed by 'disease as are killed in warfare.

Tho guide issued to the troops states that it is hoped that New Zealanders, by keeping fit, will reduce their deathrate from diseaso to a minimum. The diseases which are most likely to kill tho soldier are: Typhoid fever,, dysentery j and cholera, caused chiefly from water. All water should thorefore bo boiled before being used; flies should be killed and all'food, covered. Other complaints suffered by woops dn campaign aro diarrhoea, influenza, boils, carbuncles, toothache, simple abrasions of the skin which fester, • sunstroke .. caused by fatigue and, exposure to the sun, and smallpox. Instructions on how to care for themselves, taken from the memorandum 'of Lieut.-Colonel G. Macpherson, M.8., C M.G., Royal Army Medical Corps, 'aro very useful at presont.

Care of Trivial Complaints. Colonel Macpherson says that. _ even trivial complaints, such, as . whitlow, boils, toothache, reduce the.. fighting power of• the army. These occur most' frequently from the soldier being, too lazy 'to cleanse himself. He must, therefore, be careful to cleanse every, part of his body, even in the held. As hot.baths cannot always.be taken during war,,the soldier must keep himself clean by rubbing the dirt off his body by means of a wot towel. The hands are especially liable to become dirty, arid wnitlows, etc., are very "apt to occur. Also, the germs of disease are apt to enter'the body from'tho dirt of the hands through cuts,: or by, fingering food, etc., when the hands/are-' dirty. ■ It is necessary, therefore, to wash the hands frequently with soap arid water. ■,' Cause of -'Sunstroke. Sunstroke is caused by the sun's rays, and is one. of tho most serious accidents during a march in hot weather. . The persons,most readily affecced are the inexperienced in marching, tho physically weak, convalescents from sickness, those who are suffering from fatigue, those who havo had little sleep, those: who have had insufficient food, those who aire suffering from, thirst, and those who drink too much alcohol. To avoid- sunstroko, ono must thereforo look after ono's own health and load' a temperate-life. -, ' Water-bottle's should bo kept filled in case of thirst, food should be taken in ' moderation, and one must_ sleep as much as pos-, siblo: The unit commander' is resjxmsible that the march takes plaoo when the, sun "is least'powerful, and that.a halt is made at midday. He.is also responsible for increasing tho distance between units, reducing the weight carried,' and seeing that the chest is kept free from tight clothing and open "o the air. The first symptoms of sunstroke are as follow:—Excessive perspiration, with' tlie sweat streaming from the forehead into the eyes and down- the front of the chest,. sense of heat in' the head, rapid breathing and palpitation, a'feeling of constriction in tho ; chest, senso of numbness in the arms and legs, and giddiness. x When these symptoms occur the soldier, must .leave, the • ranks, go into the shade, open his clothing, drink some cbld water, put cold water on his head, and wine His chest with a cloth dipped in. cold, water. He will then quickly recover.. If, however, he continues marching with these symptoms, the sweating will suddenly cease, the skin will.becomo dry, tho heart's action will become feeble, and he will fall down unconscious. Death will take place, in all probability, if, medical treatment is delayed. '. . ' , • . Under such circumstances, the following 'measures will be taken while waiting the arrival of' the surgeon. Carry tho patient into a shady place where is .a good breeze, and take off his coat 1 and trousers, and unbutton his shirt..' Place him in an easy position, with the head raised, and prevent tho men from, crowding round" • him. Pour cold water over the head, and. chest, and, if possible, over tho whole body, or wrap him in wet clothes, and keep the clothes wet by pouring cold water over. them. If the respiration is difficult, perform artificial respiration. While this. is being performed keep fanning him. Keep the limbs constantly rubbed. When consciousness is restored lot him drink plenty of w>hi water. '. ■• ■ -| ■ '. Infectious Diseases. Infectious diseases have their origin outside the body, and on this account they should bo easily avoided if proper' measures be taken. The germs that cause them are living organisms, although they are too small., to be seen with the naked eye. When they enter the body thoy develop rapidly and cause serious disease. The history of. all wars tells us that the number of men who succumb to these diseases is greater than that killed by the enomy. All the Staff officers take special measures to prevent infectious disease on this account, and the soldiers must help them by strictly following the instructions. Both in peace and in war the chiof infectious disease affecting soldiers is enteric fover. The germ of the disease enters the body with the food or drink. thing to do, therefore, is to cat and drink nothing that is not ccoked. The germ also exists iu the bedding and clothing, and in the dirt on tho hands and fingers. Therefore 'the underclothing mii6t be kept clean, the outer clothing well brushed, and tho hands must bo washed beforo eating, if this'is possible. Tho germs of dysentery and cholera also enter tho body in the same, way as the germ of enteric fever. Therefore tho Eamei precautions, mutt ,bo taken: Unripe fruit is apt to oauso dysentery, and must not bo taken when dysentery is prevalent. In view of the fact that Dr. Kendall, the throat, ear, and eye specialist, of I Wellington, has been sent to Samoa, 'consequent upon the outbreak of eyo trouble amongst tho Now Zealand troops there', a note amongst instructions issued to the troops is interesting. It., states that there aro several infectious diseases of tho eye, but tho most dangerous is trachoma.or .Egyptian optlial-' mia. Jinn arc attacked by this diseaso from using waslnng-basilis and towels in. common. The practice, states the guide, must bo avoided when suc-h diseases prevail. When it is impossible | to have separate basins, tlie basin should be rinsed out sovoral times prior to using.