, in
Summer; Officers should endeavour to prevent their swallowing
immediately great Quantities of cold Water, and persuade them to wait
a little till they cool; and at such Times, if Spirits can be got
easily, to order a small Quantity to be mixed with the Water in each
Man's Canteen.

Though the Abuse of vinous and spirituous Liquors is very destructive
to the Constitution, yet these same Liquors, given in Moderation to
Soldiers on Service, during the Times of great Fatigues, are some of
the best Preservatives of Health. Spirits, for common Use, ought to
be mixed with Water; and in the hot Climates made into Punch; though
in very cold and wet Weather, and in damp Nights, a Glass of pure
Spirits, given to the Men going on Duty, is of great Service; for it
is always observed, that Men are much less apt to catch Diseases from
being wet when they are upon a March, or at hard Work, than when they
stand Centinels, or are upon Out-Posts where they move but little, or
when they lie down in their wet Cloaths; and that they are less liable
to be affected by the Weather after a hearty Meal, or drinking a Glass
of Spirits, or some generous Liquor, than when their Stomachs are
empty.

An Infusion of Bark or other Bitters, and of Garlick, in Spirits, has
been found to encrease their Efficacy as Preservatives both against
the Effects of Cold and malignant Distempers. Dr. _Lind_ has
recommended an Infusion of Garlick in Spirits as one of the best
Stomachics and Diaphoretics he knows in cold wet Weather. And many
have recommended a Tincture of the Bark[146]: Towards the End of the
Year 1743, Mr. _Tough_, one of the Apothecaries to the _British_
military Hospital in the late War, then a Mate to a marching Regiment,
was ordered to go down the _Rhine_ with a Party of Sick, who had the
Seeds of the Hospital Fever among them, and were to go in Bilanders,
from _Germany_ to _Flanders_. Having had a Cask or two of Brandy put
aboard as Part of the Stores for the Sick, he was afraid lest the Men
should make too free with the Spirits; to prevent which he threw in a
Quantity of Bark into each Cask, and gave the Men regularly, Morning
and Evening, a Glass of this bitter Tincture. At the same Time, the
Men were kept extremely clean. By these Means most of the Sick mended
upon the Passage, without the Malignant Fever appearing again amongst
them; whereas, Dr. _Pringle_, who takes Notice of the other Parties
who came from the same Hospitals in _Ge