January 23, 1915 
LAND AND WATER 
CHOOSING KIT 
Practical Hints 
(Continued fro^n pase 219) 
THESE articles are written from practical experi- 
ence of military matters, with a view to keeping 
our readers in touch with the various requirements 
of active service. Changes of climate and the peculiar 
conditions under which the present campaign is being 
waged render different items of equipment advisable at 
different times, and we are in touch with officers at the 
front and others from whom the actual requirements of 
officers and men can be ascertained. The articles are 
not intended to advertise any particular firm or firms. 
The Medicme Chest 
The problem of liow to carry simple remedies for use in 
the field is one that has caused a good deal of thought and 
planning. For the most part, the medicine chest has resolved 
itself into a tin box containing bottles of various tablets, 
each tablet containing so many grains of a certain drug. 
Sometimes the outfit served its purpose without trouble — 
that is if the owner were careful ; at other times the corks 
of the little bottles got lost, the bottles themselves got broken, 
and in some cases the tablets lost their efficiency. At the 
best the tin case was a thing which had a habit of being a 
nuisance or getting lost, since it had to be carried as a part 
of the baggage, being too large to fit in any pocket, and at 
the same time a thing with disagreeable corners and edges. 
Portability — and Efiiciency 
Then there were men who swore by the real simon-pure 
drug in powder or liquid form, overlooking the fact that it 
is almost impossible to weigh and measure out drugs in the 
field ; these might be counted mere cranks. What was 
wanted was simple remedies in a sufficiently compressed 
form to be carried in the pocket, made up in some way which 
would ensure their keeping their strength and efficiency for 
any reasonable length of time. It happens that the problem 
has been solved by embodying a certain strength of practically 
any drug in thin sheets of gelatine, each sheet being divided 
into twenty-four sections, and each section forming a dose. 
A dozen or more of these sheets are enclosed in a leather 
case, which again is contained in an oiled silk coverr and 
there is a medicine chest which can be carried in the breast 
pocket, and takes up so little room that it hardly disturbs 
the flatness of the coat. 
Keeping Qualities 
The idea of putting up drugs in this form is an old one, 
but, like the idea of the poncho and several other good things, 
it had been allowed to languish until campaigning brought it 
to light again ; and even now it is not nearly so well known 
as it might be. There is no patent medicine about it ; the 
drugs are ordinary prescription drugs of the very best quality, 
and in their gelatine form they will keep " for ever, or longer?' 
as the Irishman said. There is no possibilitv of mistaking 
the size of a dose, and the doses can either be taken as lozenges 
or dissolved in water, according to taste and the time available. 
In large quantities, drugs in such a form would take away 
more than half the labour that is required to make up an 
'Army surgeon's prescription, and would be invaluable where 
the time taken up in weighing and measuring is useful for 
other tasks. In small quantities, and in the httle pocket 
cases, these gelatine-enclosed remedies form by far the best 
and most portable form of medicine chest for individual 
field use. 
Saddles 
With reference to the remarks in these columns a short 
time ago, concerning the merits of " colonial " pattern saddles 
as opposed to the regulation pattern, a correspondent writes : 
" The Western stock saddle, as used by the Strathconas in 
South Africa, is as good as if not better than the colonial 
pattern, more especially with men who are not used to riding, 
Whilst the weight is a little more, it is more evenly and 
widely distributed, and in my estimation is no harder on the 
horse; at the same tune making riding very much more 
comfortable for the rider." 
With this I am entirely in agreement, for there is nothing 
on earth so comfortable as the Western stock saddle, and, as 
remarked by our correspondent, it distributes the weight of 
the rider in such a way that on long marches the extra weigiit 
of the saddle is more than counterbalanced. But its look 
(Continued on pmgt 233) 
WINTER SALE 
Military Tailoring 
and Camp Equipment 
at reduced prices. 
All our stock of ready'to-wear 
Uniforms, Great Coats, British 
Warms (lined fleece and fur). 
Belts, Swords, Haversacks, 
Water Bottles, Underwear, Shirts 
and Caps at reduced prices. 
.-.• LIST POST FREE. :: 
^^^____ Tf,c Untn Mai: -^"^ 
Kcffcnr .street. London W 
PRA CTICAL KIT 
SOME OF 
SWAINE & ADENEY'S SPECIALITIES 
SAM BROWNE BELT, covered khaki canvas 
OFFICER'S WATERPROOF, lined fleece, 
guaranteed waterproof. An ideal Service coat 
HAVERSACKS, extra large and strong. Made 
from an officer's design ----- 
WIRE NIPPERS, insulated handles, inleather case 
Do> insulated handles, Ironside pattern 
LOADED STICKS, weighted pigskin knobs 
Do< covered all over pigskin 
OFFICER'S HACKING WHIP, with thong, 
covered pigskin ------ 
OFFICER'S HACKING WHIP, plaited kan- 
garoo hide ----... 
"ACTIVE SERVICE" MESS BOX, fitted 
for six persons ------ from 
SWORDS, Regulation proofed and etched blade, 
complete in scabbard - - - Infantry 
Cavalry or Artillery 
£ s. d. 
3 3 O 
5 5 O 
12 6 
12 6 
15 6 
10 6 
15 O 
1 1 O 
1 5 O 
5 5 O 
5 5 O 
6 6 O 
Send for Full List of 
. . War Equipment- . . 
SWAINE 6 ADENEY 
By appnintmcnt to H.M. The King 
185 PICCADILLY, W. 
THOMAS & SONS 
NEW PUTTEE 
Covers the leg in three turns. 
Made in waterproof cloth. 
Takes about quarter the time to wind and unwind ^ 
that an ordinary puttee does. Price 8/6 pair V 
Service Kit & Camp requirements 
of the very best quality at reasonable 
prices. Patterns and Price List on application. 
THOMAS & SONS 
32 
Military Tailors and 
BreechesMakers 
BROOK STREET, 
W. 
231 
