As soon as possible after reaching camp after a day of marching the feet should be washed with soap and water, and the soldier should put on a dry pair of socks and his extra pair of shoes from his surplus kit.  If the skin is tender, or the feet perspire, wash with warm salt water or alum water, but do not soak the feet a long time, as this, although very comforting at the time, tends to keep them soft.  Should blister’s appear on the feet, prick and evacuate them by pricking at the lower edge with a pin which has been passed through the flame of a match and cover them with zinc oxide plaster applied hot.  This plaster can be obtained on request at the regimental infirmary.  If serious abrasions appear on the feet, or corns, bunions, and ingrowing nails cause trouble, have your name placed on sick report and apply to the surgeon for treatment.  Cut the toe nails square (fairly close in the middle, but leaving the sides somewhat longer), as this prevents ingrowing nails.

CHAPTER V.

EXTRACTS FROM INFANTRY DRILL REGULATIONS.

UNITED STATES ARMY, 1911.

[Corrected to April 15, 1917.]

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.

ALIGNMENT:  A straight line upon which several elements are formed, or are to be formed; or the dressing of several elements upon a straight line.

BASE:  The element on which a movement is regulated.

BATTLE SIGHT:  The position of the rear sight when the leaf is laid down.

CENTER:  The middle point or element of a command.

COLUMN:  A formation in which the elements are placed one behind another.

DEPLOY:  To extend the front.  In general to change from column to line, or from close order to extended order.

DEPTH:  The space from head to rear of any formation, including the leading and rear elements.  The depth of a man is assumed to be 12 inches.

DISTANCE:  Space between elements in the direction of depth.  Distance is measured from the bark of the man in front to the breast of the man in rear.  The distance between ranks is 40 inches in both line and column.

ELEMENT:  A file, squad, platoon, company, or larger body, forming part of a still larger body.

FILE:  Two men, the front-rank man and the corresponding man of the rear rank.  The front-rank man is the FILE LEADER.  A file which has no rear-rank man is a BLANK file.  The term FILE applies also to a single man in a single-rank formation.

FILE CLOSERS:  Such officers and noncommissioned officers of a company as are posted in rear of the line.  For convenience, all men posted in the line of file closers.

FLANK:  The right or left of a command in line or in column:  also the element on the right or left of the line.

FORMATION:  Arrangement of the elements of a command.  The placing of all fractions in their order in line, in column, or for battle.