Nature and Importance.—Personal hygiene means preservation of health by attention to the care of the body. It is obvious that such care is essential to keep the physical character of the soldier up to the proper standard. Military efficiency in an individual rests upon certain considerations, chief among which are health, strength, and activity. To secure and keep these qualities, such habits as experience has shown to be necessary must be formed: personal cleanliness; regulation of diet; avoidance of excesses (particularly in eating, drinking, and sexual matters); wearing suitable clothing; keeping the bodily processes at work (kidneys, bowels, skin); taking sufficient exercise, preferably in the open air; devoting a proper part of each day to rest of body and mind, with recreation for the latter; maintaining the surroundings in which one lives. An anatomy and physiology.—In the discussion of this branch of our subject, an elementary knowledge of anatomy and physiology must be assumed, as the scope of this work does not permit of instruction in these topics. Personal Cleanliness.—The maintenance of personal cleanliness is even more necessary in the military service than in civil life. This is due in part to the violent exercises required of the soldier, with the resultant dirt and sweat, but especially because so many live together within a small space. Baths and Bathing —The most important requirement to insure cleanliness is bathing. Hot and warm baths are soothing and best remove surface dirt; they are grateful means of reducing muscular soreness after exertion, and will often induce sleep in a restless, wakeful person. The most desirable means of bathing is perhaps in a tub in which the whole body may be immersed; in default of this and particularly in barracks, the shower-bath is very satisfactory. If means for complete bathing are not available, careful attention should, in any event, be given to the daily cleansing of the armpits, crotch and feet, as well as the hands and face. The hands should be washed after defecation and urination, lest they convey disease germs. The nails must be well kept and clean. On the march, if no water is available, a vigorous “dry rub” with a coarse towel will be found refreshing as well as cleansing. The scalp should be washed at least once or twice a month and should be stimulated daily by brisk rubbing with a brush or the fingers. Care of the Teeth.—Every man should own a good tooth brush and use it with a tooth powder or mild antiseptic (listerine for instance) at least twice a day. If no tooth powder is available, wood ashes or wood charcoal make efficient substitutes. Clothing.—Since clothing (especially the underwear) when soiled with sweat and dust is irritating to the skin and gives off disagreeable odors, it is necessary to keep this as clean as the body. The soldier cannot keep his person clean if his garments are filthy. Therefore, whenever possible, the soiled clothing should be washed (and with soap if it can be had). If the articles are of wool, they should be washed in cold water and dried without wringing. On the march a man should have two suits of underclothes to wear on alternate days, thus ensuring cleanliness if the garments are regularly washed. If, at the end of the day’s march, water is not available for this purpose, the garments should be dried, then beaten or well rubbed, and hung up in the air. Skin Diseases.—In campaign, skin diseases due to animal parasites—especially lice and the itch mite—usually make their appearance and cause much disgust and discomfort. They must be watched for and report of their presence promptly made to the medical officer. Diet.—In the soldier’s life the diet is, of course, regulated as far as possible by the authorities, who design and issue the ration and train the cooks by whom the articles composing it are prepared. The character of the food taken should vary in accordance with the conditions of bodily vigor, occupation, climate, and food values. A vigorous man, doing heavy work, requires more nourishment than one of delicate physique following a sedentary pursuit. Climate is an important factor. Men serving in Alaska need a large amount of fats to serve as fuel in maintenance of the temperature balance. Those on duty in the Philippines require a large proportion of sugars and starches. Excess in Eating.—Overeating gives rise to biliousness and other forms of dyspepsia and overloads the body tissues with waste matters. These wastes are irritant substances and are just as likely as is alcohol to cause kidney disease, gout, obesity, and hardening of the arteries. Beefy, overfed men are especially liable to apoplexy. Dietary Advice.—A few general principles follow, which may perhaps best be expressed in the form of prohibitions. Don’t eat hurriedly. Don’t swallow a morsel till it is thoroughly broken up and mixed with the saliva by chewing. Don’t overload the stomach, but get up from the table feeling that more could be eaten with relish. Don’t eat unripe or overripe fruit. Don’t eat anything, while away from camp or barracks, whose materials or mode of preparation may seem questionable. Don’t bring worry or ill-temper to the table. Excess in drinking means, to us all, overuse of drinks containing alcohol in some form. Experience has shown that the great majority of violations of discipline, trials by court-martial, and subsequent punishments in our army result from this particular excess. Habitual indulgence in alcohol brings, as certain penalties, a host of physical and mental ailments. Besides weakening men physically, alcohol tampers with their will power, disturbs their temper, and makes them less trustworthy even when sober. Sexual Indulgence.—It is the popular idea that a young man must exercise the sexual function to some extent in order that he may retain his vigor. This belief is not founded on fact, for the sexual act is not necessary to preserve the health or powers of a man. Not only is this true, but it is equally true that sexual indulgence by young unmarried men is responsible for an immense amount of disease and suffering. This disease and suffering is borne not only by the men themselves, but, in a large proportion of cases, by the innocent women whom they afterward marry and by their children. The wives may be, and often are, infected years after an apparent cure has resulted, and the children are born diseased. Masturbation.—The habit of masturbation is degrading and is likely to interfere with the normal development of the sexual organs. It may also be responsible for early loss of sexual power (impotence). Clothing.—The prime purpose for which clothing is worn (other than that of decency) is to afford protection to the body against extremes of cold and heat. The materials used should, therefore, be such as to conserve the natural warmth of the body or to allow it to escape freely, in accordance with weather conditions. Clothing should not be permitted to interfere with the circulation of the blood, nor with the normal movements of the body. Excretory Functions.—Our bodies, in the work their various parts must perform, manufacture certain waste products which we call excretions. Now it is evident that if we do not get rid of these substances, they will clog up the body or even act as poisons... Nature has, therefore, designed certain avenues of escape for these excretions, and the chief of these are the skin, the kidneys, the bowels, and the lungs. The importance of the skin has already been dwelt upon. The kidneys can best be kept in good condition by drinking plenty of water (at least 6 or 8 glasses a day), which flushes these organs and dilutes the solid impurities of the urine. The bowels must be maintained in a “regular” state. Constipation induces a variety of uncomfortable conditions, among which piles, headache, the state often called “biliousness,” and mental depression are frequent; moreover, certain acute diseases seem more readily to attack a constipated person. The lungs are an important avenue of escape for certain waste products, chief of which is carbon dioxide. The ventilation of living rooms thus becomes desirable to dilute or carry off these wastes, to renew that most vital element, oxygen, and to prevent overheating and undue moisture of the atmosphere, which latter are important factors tending to the diminution of vitality. The germs of diseases which affect the respiratory tract are thrown off into the air and are likely to be breathed by healthy individuals, who are thus in turn infected. ‘Colds’ result more often from overheated, poorly ventilated rooms than as the result of drafts and chilling. Such colds are often contagious. The transmission of tuberculosis and such acute infectious diseases as measles, meningitis, diphtheria, and pneumonia is favored by poor ventilation. Exercise.—A sufficient amount of exercise to maintain health is ordinarily provided by military drills and other duties requiring active movement. Nevertheless, the physical condition is further improved, muscular size and strength greatly increased, and the mental outlook rendered more cheerful by athletic exercises, whether in the open air or the gymnasium. A proper appreciation of the benefits of physical exercise may be gained by a mental comparison between the rugged condition of a man who exercises regularly, and the poorly developed muscles and sallow skin of another who has some occupation which keeps him indoors at work of a light sort. The improvement is brought about by the increased activity not merely of the muscles, but of every part of the body, including the heart, lungs, skin, digestive apparatus and nervous system. Effects of Overexercise.—Like all good things, exercise may be overdone. In competitive athletics particularly, youths are apt to ignore the warning signs of fatigue (notably, excessive rapidity or irregularity of the heart’s action, and labored breathing). The feeling of fatigue is due to the accumulation, in the blood, of the waste products generated by the rapid burning-up (oxidation) of the muscular tissues. If the overexercise is prolonged beyond reasonable limits, the heart may suffer permanent injury, and the kidneys, too, be damaged, by the strain on these organs. Such conditions are especially likely to occur in individuals who have not been carefully and gradually trained into a state of physical preparedness. Soldiers in campaign—especially immature boys who are sometimes enlisted—are very liable to heart strain and an “irritable” condition of that organ. The hard, even violent, and long continued muscular efforts occasionally required of soldiers produce a condition characterized by chronic fatigue, loss of appetite and of weight, weakened heart action, and faulty digestion. In a lesser degree, these are the conditions noted when an athlete goes “stale.” The hearts of trained college athletes develop a considerable excess of muscular tissue, and become big and “beefy.” Unless such men taper off gradually in exercise, or continue this sufficiently to maintain the heart in good condition, some of the muscle fibers undergo a form of degeneration, wherein fat takes the place of muscle. The heart may thus be weakened below the physiological requirements; also, there is considerable evidence that men with such hearts are rendered more liable to attack by tuberculosis. “A man is as old as his arteries,” which is to say that some men develop old arteries much sooner than the average, so care must be taken to suit the exercise to their condition. The amount and kind of exercise best suited to each must be determined, as these vary widely in different individuals. There are men who require the equivalent of a brisk 15-mile daily walk to keep in a satisfactory physical state, while the ordinary occupation of others suffices to maintain them in excellent health. Rest.—For the repair of damaged tissues and the relief of fatigue, a certain amount of rest for both mind and body is necessary. Different people vary considerably in their requirements, but it may be set down as a fair average that eight hours of sleep in each twenty-four hours are needed to keep the faculties at their best. In addition, work of any sort, physical or mental, must be intermitted by brief periods of relaxation. Mental overwork is very common in these days of complex civilization, and exhaustion of the nervous system (neurasthenia) takes a long time for its recovery. Recreation.—The risk of overtaxing the mind is greatly lessened by measures of recreation, which may take any proper form most agreeable to the individual The cultivation of a fad is of especial value. The habit of worry, of “crossing bridges before one comes to them,” must be avoided. Fits of “the blues,” if yielded to, tend to increase in number and length and finally to unfit one for work. In garrison, on transports, and particularly in winter camps during war time, we must make provision for measures of recreation. These are essential to promote cheerfulness and contentment, to prevent ennui, and to lessen the tendency to abuse of alcohol and tobacco, gambling, and perversion of the generative function. Entertainments of all sorts, but more particularly those participated in by the men themselves, competitions and contests, reading rooms, and opportunities for following and learning mechanical trades must be provided. Cleanliness of Surroundings.—It is not sufficient merely to keep our bodies in a state of cleanliness by the measures previously outlined. We must also keep our surroundings—the houses and grounds in which we live—well “policed,” as the expression goes in our military service. It is self-evident that where people live—especially where many people are congregated in a small space—there much dirt will collect. This refers not so much to earthy particles as to the so-called organic materials which are derived from animal and vegetable sources. Under this head fall the body discharges, refuse from the kitchen, spit, decaying flowers and weeds, cigar stubs, floor and stable sweepings, and the like. These must be received in vessels specially kept for them and frequently removed, or they give off foul odors, pollute the ground, attract hosts of flies, and act as breeding-places for the germs of disease.
Key Takeaways
- Maintain personal cleanliness through regular bathing and cleaning of body parts.
- Follow a balanced diet that varies with climate, work conditions, and individual needs.
- Exercise regularly but avoid overexertion to prevent heart strain.
- Keep surroundings clean to reduce the risk of disease spread.
- Get adequate rest and engage in recreational activities to maintain mental health.
Practical Tips
- Regularly wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and after handling garbage or cleaning tasks.
- Consume a balanced diet with plenty of water, especially when outdoors or during physical activity.
- Engage in regular exercise but vary intensity to avoid overexertion, particularly in hot weather.
- Keep living spaces well-ventilated and clean to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
- Ensure adequate sleep and take breaks from work to prevent mental fatigue.
Warnings & Risks
- Avoid overeating or consuming unhygienic food, which can lead to digestive issues and diseases.
- Be cautious with alcohol consumption as it can weaken your immune system and affect judgment.
- Do not neglect personal hygiene in crowded spaces like barracks to avoid the spread of infections.
- Exercise caution when engaging in sexual activity, especially if you are young or unmarried, to prevent health risks.
Modern Application
The principles outlined in this chapter—such as maintaining cleanliness, proper diet, and regular exercise—are still highly relevant for modern survival scenarios. While some practices like cold bathing may not be practical today, the core concepts of hygiene, nutrition, and physical fitness remain essential for overall health and resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should I wash my hands according to this chapter?
The chapter advises washing your hands after defecation and urination, as well as before eating. It also recommends cleaning other body parts like armpits, crotch, feet, and face daily.
Q: What are the recommended bathing practices for soldiers in this text?
The chapter suggests that cold baths are preferable for vigorous men who react well to them, while hot or warm baths are soothing and reduce muscular soreness. Complete bathing is ideal but if not available, daily cleansing of specific body parts like armpits, crotch, feet, hands, and face should be done.
Q: How can I avoid overeating according to the chapter?
The text advises eating slowly, chewing food thoroughly, avoiding overloading the stomach, and stopping when you feel that more could be eaten with relish. It also recommends not eating unripe or overripe fruit and being cautious about what you eat away from camp.
Q: What are some signs of overexercise mentioned in this chapter?
The text notes that warning signs of fatigue include excessive rapidity or irregularity of the heart’s action, labored breathing, and chronic fatigue. Prolonged overexercise can lead to permanent injury to the heart and kidneys.
Q: How important is rest according to this chapter?
The chapter emphasizes that eight hours of sleep in a 24-hour period are necessary for optimal health. It also advises taking brief periods of relaxation during work to avoid mental overwork, which can lead to neurasthenia.