Milleliri J M
Médecin des Armées, Médecin adjoint Centre de Sélection n. 9, Tarascon.
Med Trop (Mars). 1993 Jul-Sep;53(3):393-400.
About two centuries ago, an uncommon military campaign commanded by General BONAPARTE aged of 29 led the French Army to Egypt. The history did not, up till now, underline the role of the Military Health Service. But it was tremendous, in spite of its poor facilities because its strong subordination to the omnipotent Supply Services Through the description of the conditions of the daily life of soldiers, the author reviews the measures which aimed at the protection of the troops against the usual troubles faced at by an army in the field at the end of the 18th Century: thirst and hunger, long marches with heavy equipment, affective isolation increased by the roughness of battles, diseases among with plague that caused heavy casualties. So, are reviewed in this framework many problems peculiar to that period of time: recruitment, uniforms, food, cantonments, spirits of the troops, personal hygiene as well as collective one; and consequently the measures taken by the French Military officers attached to that expedition to prevent some diseases and epidemics.
