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{
    "localId": "24325417",
    "label": "Report C: Rules for Preserving the Health of the Soldier",
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    "id": "24325417",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report C: Rules for Preserving the Health of the Soldier",
    "description": "This item is an essay describing forty rules that should be followed in order to achieve the highest level of health and sanitation for soldiers. The rules were adopted and approved by the  U.S. Sanitary Commission on July 12, 1861.",
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        "Records of the American National Red Cross",
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    "ocrText": "1\n5\nor from any other cause whatever. Officers in command,\nnot quenched by large and repeated draughts; on the con-\nand more immediately, regimental officers, will therefore\ntrary, these are liable to do harm by causing bowel com-\ngive a strict attention to this vital branch of interior econ-\nplaints. Experience teaches the old soldier that the less he\nomy.' (Winfield Scott.)\ndrinks when on a march the better, and that he suffers less\nin the end by controlling the desire to drink, however\n10. The best mode of cooking fresh meat is to make a\nurgent.\nstew of it, with the addition of such vegetables as can be ob-\ntained. It may also be boiled; but roasting, boiling, or\n14. There is no more frequent source of disease, in camp\nfrying, in camp, are wasteful and unhealthy modes of\nlife, than inattention to the calls of nature. Habitual neglect\ncooking.\nof nature's wants will certainly lead to disease and suffering.\nA trench should always be dug and provided with a pole,\n11. \"In camp or barracks the company officers must visit\nsupported by uprights, at a properly-selected spot at a mod-\nthe kitchen daily, and inspect the kettles. *\n*\nerate distance from camp, as soon as the locality of the latter\nThe commanding officer of the post or regiment will make\nhas been determined upon; one should be provided for the\nfrequent inspections of the kitchens and messes.\nofficers and another for the men. The strictest discipline in\nThe greatest care will be observed in washing and scouring\nregard to the performance of these duties is absolutely\nthe cooking utensils : those made of brass or copper should\nessential to health, as well as to decency. Men should never\nbe lined with tin.\nThe bread must be thoroughly\nbe allowed to void their excrement elsewhere than in the\nbaked, and not eaten until it is cold. The soup must be\nregularly-established sinks. In a well-regulated camp the\nboiled at least five hours, and the vegetables always cooked\nsinks are visited daily by a police party, and a layer of earth\nsufficiently to be perfectly soft and digestible.\" (Regulations,\nthrown in, and lime and other disinfecting agents employed\npar. 111, 112, 113.) Medical officers should frequently ex-\nto prevent them from becoming offensive and unhealthy. It\namine the articles of food issued to the men, inspect and\nis the duty of the surgeon to call the attention of the com-\ntaste it when cooked, and scrutinize the goodness of the\nmanding officer to any neglect of this important item of\ncooking, and the condition, as to safety and cleanliness, of\ncamp police, and also to see that the shambles, where the\ncooking utensils.\ncattle are slaughtered, are not allowed to become offensive,\nand that all offal is promptly buried at a sufficient distance\n12. Spirits should only be issued to the men after unusual\nfrom camp, and covered by at least four feet of earth. (Re-\nexertion, fatigue, or exposure, and on the discretion of the\ngulations, par. 505, 513.)\nsurgeon.\nThose men who drink spirits habitually, or who commit\n15. Except when impossible for military reasons, the site\nexcess in its use, are the first to fail when strength and en-\nof a camp should be selected for the dryness of its soil, its\ndurance are required, and they are less likely to recover from\nproximity to fresh water of good quality, and shelter from high\nwounds and injuries.\nwinds. It should be on a slight declivity, in order to facili-\ntate drainage, and not in the vicinity of swamps or stagnant\n13. Water should be always drank in moderation, espe-\nwater.\ncially when the body is heated. The excessive thirst which\nA trench, at least eight inches deep, should be dug around\nfollows violent exertion, or loss of blood, is unnatural, and is\neach tent, to secure dryness, and these should lead into other"
}