General  Committee of Defence.

   RESOLVED, That the "Observations relative to the means of preserving health in Armies," be published, and that a
copy be transmitted to every commanding officer of a Regiment and Company, in the public service, for the defence of this
district, and that the Committee of Supplies carry this resolution into effect.
                      Extract from the minutes.
     September 7th, 1814,   »                                   JN<>- GOOIXMAN, Sec'rjv- ^
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                            OBSERVATIONS
            Relative to the Means of Preserving Health in Armies.
     IT is a fact, well ascertained  by the experience of this  country, as well
as of Europe,  that armies composed of undisciplined troops, hastily collected,
suffer  more from diseases than from the weapons of their enemies? especially
in the autumnal season of the year.
     There  are,  however,  good reasons for believing that sufferings of this
kind,  great as they have been, may be prevented by the  commanding officers
and surgeons of regiments, and the larger divisions of armies, provided they
act in concert for this purpose.
     In this point of view, the position of an  encampment is  of immense im-
portance.   It  very  often  happens, in this portion of the United  States, that
the people  who  live on the west and south-west  side of a river or mill pond,
or meadow, are in  good health, while those who are to the east or south-east
of such places, are  afflicted with fevers and other dangerous  diseases.
     This fact, which is explained by the prevalence of the west and south-
west winds, establishes one  great  principle to be observed in the choice of a
position.     £■
     The hilly grounds, on the  margins of rivers, meadows,  swamps, <£c, al-
though they may be very high, are not so healthy as the grounds at a distance.
•^ %  The immediate shores of rivers are generally to be regarded as suspicious.
     When camps are necessarily placed in unhealthy positions, numerous fires,
kindled early in the evenings,  on  their windward sides,  m*jy be useful.
     No situation can insure health, without attention to three points, viz.

     1st The  arrangement of the whole camp,  and of each particular tent, so as
 to produce the greatest possible cleanliness and comfort.
     %d.  The clothing of each individual soldier, so that it  may be accommodated
 to the season, and may be in as good order as possible.
     3d.  The food  of the army, which although  last mentioned, is of immense
 importance.

     It is unnecessary, in this  place, to enter into a minute  detail respecting
 these heads, but it ought to be observed, that a sufficient number of temporary
 privies should be made at every encampment, which is to be occupied longer
 than  two or three  days, and that every morning there should be thrown into
 each  pit used for  the purpose, a quantity of fresh earth, sufficient to cover
 completely whatever has been deposited in it  during the last twenty-four hours.
      Offal substances, and every thing about  the camp which will become pu-
 trid,  ought to be buried before putrifaction begins.                   «
     The men should sleep as dry as possible, and every expedient to guard
 against the dampness of the earth, ought to be practised.
      With  this  view, a large quantity of straw  is of great importance.  The
 straw should  be often  changed, and both straw and blankets ought  to be fre-
 quently exposed to the sun.
      The clothing of the men should be accurately inspected at'short periods, and measures taken to keep it in order.
      When the evenings become cool, flannel shirts will be very serviceable.  Each soldier should have two of them.
      Regular exercise is of immense importance.  With a view simply to this object, short marches in the cool of the
 day, have been found very useful.
      Measures ought to be taken to establish a proper method of cooking, in each mess, of young troops.
      If it is possible, bread or biscuit should always be issued instead of flour.