- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
The Boston Herald of February 4, 1864, printed a list of "Items for Soldiers ... Which if studied and lived up to by our soldiers in the field cannot but prove most valuable, and would save he life of many a brave man." Taken from Hall's Journal of Health:
"Swallowing poison. Stir in a glass of water a heaping teaspoonfull each of salt and kitchen mustard, and drink it instantly -- this will empty the stomach in a minute. To antagonize any poison that may be left, swallow the white of two or three eggs; then drink a cup or two of very strong coffee, or as much sweet milk or cream, if impossible to get coffee.
"Poisoned vines. Apply a paste made of gunpowder, or sulphur, with milk; renew night and morning until cured. Live on gruel, soups, rice, and other mild food, having the bowels to act twice a day.
"Signs of death. Bury no man unless his head is off, or the abdomen begins to turn green or dark, the only sure signs, and always sure of actual death. If there is haste, cut off a toe or finger, which would wake up the slightest spark of life left.
"To stop bleeding. Four or five drops of Perchloride of Iron will check completely the flow of blood from all except the largest arteries; half a teaspoon will arrest even their bleeding. Each non-commissioned officer should have two ounces of this in a flat tin bottle, wound around with a little cotton batting, on a bit of which the liquid could be dropped for application.
"Inner clothing. Every garment that touches a soldier's skin should be woolen in all seasons -- most important in the warmest weather. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of this one item to the health of an army.
"Saving life. In the first seven months of the Crimean campaign, the soldiers died at the rate of 60 out of 100 per annum, while for the last five months of the war not many more soldiers died of disease as at home, owing to a more systematic and rigid attention to five things; 1st. Selecting healthful camps; 2d. Enforcing strict cleanliness; 3d. Avoiding unnecessary exposure; 4th. Proper preparation of healthful food; 5th. Judicious nursing."
"Swallowing poison. Stir in a glass of water a heaping teaspoonfull each of salt and kitchen mustard, and drink it instantly -- this will empty the stomach in a minute. To antagonize any poison that may be left, swallow the white of two or three eggs; then drink a cup or two of very strong coffee, or as much sweet milk or cream, if impossible to get coffee.
"Poisoned vines. Apply a paste made of gunpowder, or sulphur, with milk; renew night and morning until cured. Live on gruel, soups, rice, and other mild food, having the bowels to act twice a day.
"Signs of death. Bury no man unless his head is off, or the abdomen begins to turn green or dark, the only sure signs, and always sure of actual death. If there is haste, cut off a toe or finger, which would wake up the slightest spark of life left.
"To stop bleeding. Four or five drops of Perchloride of Iron will check completely the flow of blood from all except the largest arteries; half a teaspoon will arrest even their bleeding. Each non-commissioned officer should have two ounces of this in a flat tin bottle, wound around with a little cotton batting, on a bit of which the liquid could be dropped for application.
"Inner clothing. Every garment that touches a soldier's skin should be woolen in all seasons -- most important in the warmest weather. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of this one item to the health of an army.
"Saving life. In the first seven months of the Crimean campaign, the soldiers died at the rate of 60 out of 100 per annum, while for the last five months of the war not many more soldiers died of disease as at home, owing to a more systematic and rigid attention to five things; 1st. Selecting healthful camps; 2d. Enforcing strict cleanliness; 3d. Avoiding unnecessary exposure; 4th. Proper preparation of healthful food; 5th. Judicious nursing."