when there was no Danger of the Soldiers making their
Quarters too warm, as Wood was difficult to be got.

[120] Dr. _Pringle_ has very justly observed, that upper
Stories are preferable to Ground Floors; and that all
uninhabited large damp Houses ought to be rejected.
_Observat. on Diseases of the Army_, part ii. chap. iii.
sect. 2.

If Necessity obliges Officers to put up with such Places for
their Men, Care ought to be taken to clean them well, and to
air and dry them by Means of Fires, before the Soldiers go
into them; and to supply well the Men who are to lodge in
them with Straw and Blankets, and with Wood or Turf.

But although close Stoves are prejudicial in small Rooms, yet when a
Town is much crowded, and Men are obliged to be lodged, in Winter, in
large Barns or Churches, or other large open Places, the _German_
Stoves may be used with great Advantage in airing and drying such
Places, and keeping them of a moderate Heat; especially if there be a
Place in them for an open Fire, or if they be of that Kind which the
_Germans_ call _wynd Stoves_, which have a Door opening into the
Chamber where the People are lodged; or if there be broken Windows, or
any other Opening by which a free Circulation of Air can be kept up
in the Men's Apartments.

In Winter, when the Weather is very cold or wet, a Glass of Brandy, or
of the spirituous Tincture of the Bark, given to the Men as they went
upon Duty, especially in the Night, has been found to be of great
Use[121]. Dr. _Pringle_ has very justly observed, that the Times of
standing Centinel, and being upon Out-posts, ought, if possible, to be
shortened at such Seasons; and that Fires in the Rear of the Camp, for
Men coming off Duty to warm and dry themselves at, were found to be of
great Service.

[121] Dr. _Pringle_ has taken Notice, that it would be a
right Measure to make an Allowance of Spirits to the Infantry
on Service; which certainly would be of great Use, and save
many Mens Lives; and might be done at a small Expence to the
Government, if properly managed; as it would only be
requisite to make such an Allowance when the Troops are in
the Field, and to such Men as mount Guard in cold wet
Weather, or at Nights in Garrison Towns, during the Winter.
If ever such an Allowance be made, what Spirits are given to
the Men ought to be mixed with five or six Times the Quantity
of Water