canvas, a poncho, or a manta affords considerable protection. When shelters are provided for animals and forage, provision should also be made for the horse equipment.

When any of the leather equipment becomes badly worn or is torn or broken, the articles should be turned over to the troop or battery saddler for repairs. Repairs should not be allowed to accumulate but should be made as damages occur.

The saddle is the most expensive article of horse equipment and should not be thrown about or left where horses may step upon it or where it may be otherwise abused. Breast collars should not be subjected to rough treatment, or they may be bent out of shape and rendered unfit for use. Breast collars may be kept in a pliable condition by opening the folds and placing therein a small amount of dubbin as issued, rubbing the folds gently by hand. Too much dubbin should not be used.

All metal parts, except bits and spurs, need ordinarily only to be wiped clean with a cloth slightly moistened in oil; they are purposely issued dark, and it is desired that they be kept in that condition. The use of warm water on the bits, stirrups, or similar portions to remove hardened saliva, sweat, mud, etc., is frequently advantageous. The bit, chain, and spurs may also be polished, but all dark metal should be cleaned and oiled only, and should never be attacked with corroding agents.

WEB AND CLOTH EQUIPMENT

122. Brush the cloth equipment thoroughly to remove all dust and mud before washing. Spread the blanket, belt, etc., on a clean board or rock and apply the soap solution with a scrub brush. When a good lather appears, wash off with clear water. The saddle blanket should be kept clean and soft and free from wrinkles. In campaign and on the march saddle blankets should be thoroughly brushed at least once daily. They should never be folded wet and left in that condition. When necessary the blanket may be washed as above described, or be cleaned by repeated immersions in tepid soapsuds and hung over a pole or line to dry, without wringing or pressing.

AMMUNITION

123. It is highly important that all ammunition be kept dry and free from dirt under all circumstances. In storage it should be in a dry, closed room or building. Containers should be at least 3 inches off the floor and there should be an air space around each box. The containers should never be opened

except as contents are to be used. When the contents of a broken container are not all used at a firing, this ammunition will be the first used at the next firing.

Any ammunition taken to home stations from field training, and not used before the next field camp, will be taken to camp and be the first used in that period. A new supply will be requisitioned and taken to home station each year. (See also N. G. R. 76 and 85.)

OUTLINES OF FIRST AID FOR THE INJURED

OR SICK

(T. R. 112-5)

The instructor should familiarize himself with the plates in the Training Regulations, in connection with this text, before giving instruction. The references to plates are retained in the body of the text to facilitate such preparation.

PRELIMINARY

124. Importance of individual training.-As most of the firstaid work in war under present conditions will be done by the individual soldier acting alone and not by a squad of two or more men, it is important that his training should be largely individual and such as will develop self-reliance and resourcefulness.

125. Object of teaching first aid.-The object of any teaching upon first air or early assistance of the injured or sick is not only to enable one person to help another, but in some measure to help himself. The purpose of these directions is to show how this may be done with simple means and by simple methods. It is a mistake to think that you must know many things to be helpful, but you must understand a few things clearly in order to assist the patient in a severe case until he can be seen by the surgeon or those who are thoroughly trained. In ordinary cases what you can do is often all that may be necessary. These short instructions are intended for application anywhere at a military post, in camp, or under any circumstances of ordinary life, but, as the wounds received in battle are the most important to the soldier, it is the more necessary that he should know what to expect there and what to do for himself and others.

The kind of wounds incurred is governed by the character of warfare and the variety and amount of armament being employed by the contending forces. Under certain conditions large

wounds from shell or shrapnel may predominate, sometimes amounting to 70 per cent of the total; on the other hand, the majority of wounds may be caused by small-arms missiles. Comparatively few wounds are inflicted by saber or bayonet.

126. General instructions.-As a further foreword the following points may be brought out in a general way for the guidance of those who may be called upon to render first aid to the injured.

a. Keep cool.

b. Don't get excited.

c. Examine his injury.

d. Be gentle don't handle a wounded man roughly.

e. Do not try to do too much.

f. A Medical Department man is usually available and should be found as soon as possible to care for the case.

g. In this connection the importance of warmth may be emphasized in the case of injured men.

(1) If a severely wounded man is not kept warm he will probably die.

(2) After you have cared for the man's injury be sure to keep him warm.

(3) Fill canteens with hot water and place under his armpits and between his legs; always outside of his clothing, in order to obviate the danger of causing painful burns or scalds.

(4) Wrap him in blankets or other warm covering that may be available.

(5) If he has not been shot through the abdomen or chest, give him hot tea, hot chocolate, or hot coffee, or, if none of these are available, plain hot water if you have any means of providing it.

(6) Place him on a litter and carry him to a dugout or other place of safety and send one man for litter bearers. (Do not carry a wounded man to the rear unless told to do so by an officer; such work is the duty of the litter bearers.)..

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES

127. Deimer's first-aid rules (modified).—a. Never touch a wound with anything unclean-dirty fingers, nondisinfected bandages, dirty water, etc. It may cause inflammation, ulceration, or blood poisoning.

b. Expose the wound by removing the covering article of dress, which contains many impurities. Unbutton or cut clothes and examine extent of bleeding. Open all articles of clothing which

might hinder circulation of blood or breathing (collar, necktie, belt). To avoid pain and bleeding of the legs, raise them by putting under them a pack, saddle, truss of straw, etc.; slight bleeding will often cease in this position of its own accord without any bandaging. A bandage is advisable to protect the wound from dirt, flies, or cold. Use the first-aid packet. Coats, pouches, haversacks, etc., may be used as pillows.

c. If the wound does not bleed at all, or only a few drops at a time, no constriction or pressure is necessary.

d. If the blood is spurting or in a strong stream from a wound, you must use measures to stop it.

128. First-aid packet.-a. When a ball enters or goes through the muscles or soft parts of the body alone, generally nothing need be done except to protect the wound or wounds with the contents of the first-aid packet. As the first-aid packet will be your principal means of applying first aid, it is well that you should become familiar with its contents and the methods of applying it to various parts of the body; hence a description of the contents and directions for application are given herewith. Each packet contains:

(1) Two bandages of absorbent sublimated (1:1,000) gauze, 4 by 84 inches.

(2) Two compresses of absorbent sublimated (1:1,000) gauze, each composed of one-half square yard of gauze, folded so as to make a compress 3% by 7 inches. One compress to be placed lengthwise in the center of each bandage and retained in position by sewing along one end and across the center. The loose end of the compress is then folded on the sewed part and held by one or two stitches, thus making a compress 31⁄2 by 32 inches. Each bandage thus prepared to be rolled loosely from each end, with the roll toward the back of the bandage, until the compress is reached. The latter is now folded through the center and the flattened rolls of the bandage laid on either side of the folded compress. Each bandage then to be wrapped separately in parchment or waxed paper.

(3) Two No. 3 safety pins wrapped in waxed paper. The two compresses and the safety pins are then wrapped together in tough paper, on which simple directions for application are printed. The packet thus prepared to be placed in a hermetically sealed metal case with a suitable arrangement for easy opening. All contents of the case must be sterile. Dimensions of the case should not exceed 4 by 22 by 1 inch. The words, "First-aid packet, U. S. Army," are stamped on the metal case.