Digestion deals with the food intake and its complete assimilation. The aim of the soldier is efficiency and a capacity for strenuous work, without injury to the system. In order to accomplish this, greater amounts of food than normal must be taken. The demands made on the soldier's digestion will be correspondingly greater.

The usual principles for the care of digestion can be briefly summarized as follows: Regularity in taking meals, eating leisurely, diversity of foods, frugality, work and rest proportionately divided. Neither overfatigue nor too much leisure should be allowed to occur.

Although these maxims pertain to all individuals alike, the soldier included, and should be followed, whenever feasible, the army-man is so placed that he frequently cannot obey these laws.

For this reason it appears appropriate to consider how best to act in these precarious conditions of a soldier's life.

1 Written during my service period at Camp Upton. Medica Record, February 9th, 1918.

1. The Food Problem

A greater diversity of foods is usually impossible in camp life. The soldier will therefore do well to partake of every article of food offered him in order to avoid a diet that would be too one-sided.

As a rule he should endeavor to partake of the entire portion of cereals, vegetables and fruits allotted to him and of meat as much as he desires. Peas, beans and lentils contain a considerable quantity of protein and should be indulged in liberally. Fruit-jellies and jams are useful when fresh fruit cannot be had. The foods usually being concentrated, it is important to have tea, coffee, or cocoa, with milk and sugar at each meal, also good drinking water. The latter should be taken, one to two glassfuls (according to the requirements of the body; more in hot weather than in cold) at each meal.

2. Rules For Meals

(a) When activity is known; (6) For exceptional and undeterminable work.

(a) The soldier should lead as regular a life as is compatible with his duties. Meals should be taken at regular intervals, if possible, at about the same time every day. Some time should be spent in consuming a meal, eating leisurely, neither too fast nor too slowly. The morning meal should be the lightest of the three meals. A short period of rest (spent in conversation, smoking, etc.) after meals is advisable. After the evening meal, this period of leisure should be extended over a longer time. Anything that contributes to the amusement of the individual will be of help toward a healthy digestion. Playing of games or listening to music and story telling, is therefore, highly commendable.

(b) When there is a hurry call and the mealtime must be considerably shortened, the soldier will do well to partake of a rather small quantity of light foods. A cup of warm (not hot) coffee or tea and bread and butter or a sandwich, or porridge will best serve the purpose. Hot dishes and meats are not appropriate at such hurried occasions. The reason why larger meals and heavy foods are here not desirable is because the soldier then has no time, nor the desire to masticate the food properly. A heavy meal faultily ingested may easily lead to bad consequences.

Similarly, a meal which must be taken after exhausting marches or other overstrenuous work or after prolonged fasting, should be of a light character and of a rather moderate quantity. After a period of rest, the next meal may be taken in full amount and in the usual manner.

3. Urination

Passing of urine should be done at regular intervals, if feasible. Empty the bladder when arising and retiring, also before starting out for a prolonged march or other important steady work.

4. Defecation

Attempt to have a movement of the bowels when arising. If unsuccessful, do not worry about it, nor think of it. Whenever there is an inclination for defecation, nature's call should be obeyed; otherwise, wait until the next morning. Drinking of water, ingesting larger amounts of fruits, salads, jams and vegetables will greatly contribute toward a regularity of the bowel movement.

5. Rest

The soldier being subjected to strenuous work must also have periods of rest. This applies here in a still higher degree than in ordinary life. Efficiency is impossible unless there is complete recreation after fatigue.

6. Sleep

Sleep is the acme of rest. In this state the muscles, nerves and brain cells are completely relaxed, and the blood stream washes out and carries away all waste products which had accumulated during the period of work. Eight hours' sleep should be allotted, unless in exceptional straits, when this period may be somewhat shortened.

Rest and sleep are essential factors in keeping the digestion in good trim. For this reason as much attention should be paid to these two factors as to the other items regarding nutrition.

At first glance it appears rather impossible for a soldier to take good care of his digestive apparatus. For many of the conditions prevailing in army-life are necessarily contrary to hygiene. In reality, however, the soldier quickly accommodates himself to the new conditions, and his digestion is as good as in civil life. It is a great blessing of nature to have fitted our organism with a great deal of elasticity, so that it can adapt itself to the most unfavorable states.

In observing the rules outlined, good digestion will be considerably enhanced in the soldier.