THE EEPOllT OF THE Xo. 36 



carrots and cabbages, are the standard vegetables; coffee and tea are supplied at 

 breakfast and supper. Meals are drawn up a week ahead on a diet sheet, and it lies 

 with the Quartermaster of each battalion to vary this, and to make the meals as 

 appetizing as possible. The men are generally allowed to have as much as theV 

 can eat. Extras of food such as pie, cookies and fruit in season, are supplied when 

 canteen funds permit. 



I need not say anything about work. Exercise is supplied by a carefully 

 arranged syllabus of physical training and bayonet-fighting, on a system calculated 

 to stretch all the muscles of the body, and to produce speed and quickness, ratlier 

 than over-developed, hard muscles. No apparatus is employed. The bayonet- 

 figliting is a combination of the British and French systems, and was made up to 

 meet the exigencies of trench warfare. Men are taught to kill their opponent, or 

 to put him out of action in any way possible Avithout any " gentlemanliness *' or 

 rules of fair fighting. Boxing, which is much akin to bayonet work, and games of 

 skill, are always taught and encouraged. 



To insure immunity against typhoid and smallpox, every officer and man is 

 inoculated and vaccinated. 



Life in a training camp, as far as it concerned Camp Borden, was intended to 

 fit for the front, as far as could be done in this country, men who were already 

 hardened to military life, and had already received their preliminary training. The 

 general health of the camp was excellent. The problem of sanitation was reduced 

 to a minimum on account of an extensive and excellent system of plumbing, which 

 provided almost hotel conveniences. Strict rales were made against throwing rul)- 

 bish around or committing a nuisance anywhere in the camp area, and liecause 

 the wash liouses were at one end of every battalion area, tubs were placed in each 

 company line for the convenience of the men at night. These were removed the first 

 thing in the morning. The men slept in bell tents, 8 to 10 men in a tent, and the 

 notorious Camp Borden sand was soft to lie on, until wooden tent floors were 

 brought from Niagara Camp for some of the battalions. 



What with the open air life, the work and exercise, the freedom from city 

 evils and an abundant supply of the purest water for drinking and shower baths, 

 the health of the men was excellent, and their physical condition greatly improved 

 through the summer. 



As far as Entomology is concerned, I know of only three cases of lice in our 

 battalion all the summer, one of head and two of body lice. The treatment was 

 one of prevention, but where a case of infestation occurred, the subject was at 

 once taken to medical headquarters and given a prolonged hot bath, while his 

 clothes, blankets and kit, and that of all the other men in his tent, were passed 

 through cafbolized steam under pressure for half an hour, and were ready for him 

 after the bath. This treatment Avorked admirably, and no second application Avas 

 necessary. The carbolized steam installation "was used to sterilize the blankets of 

 the camp, and could treat those of a battalion, i.e., about 4,000, in a day. This 

 Avas done once a month, for each battalion. A system of the same kind is being 

 installed at the headquarters of each military district and it is proposed to periodi- 

 cally treat the blankets of the battalions in winter quarters. 



House flies Avere a nuisance and increased rapidly throughout the summer. 

 The five cook-houses of each battalion Avere Avire screened and provided Avith spring 

 wire doors, but flies were troublesome in the men's tents. With regard to our 

 brigade, I could not account for the pest of flies, because the most stringent rules 

 were enforced about garbage and refuse of all kinds. Special bins Avere provided for 

 all Avaste matter and liorse manure, and Avere emptied daily by a Government con- 



