"Belly Bands"

[FortyRounder]

These are an item which I occaisionally come across in research. They were apparantly worn for warmth and even for intestinal ailments (??). I've done a forum search and found nothing. My curiosity is aroused: what were belly bands made of, how were they made and how common were they, on the homefront and in the armies?

[Jefferson Guards]

Re: "Belly Bands"

Found this on Vicki Betts' website. I do not know how often this advice was used. The answer to your question can be found towards the bottom in red.

CHARLESTON MERCURY, May 16, 1861, p. 1, c. 7

Soldiers' Health
Interesting Suggestions and Recommendations.
----

The following article, on "Soldiers' Health," is from Hall's New York Journal of Health. It contains much valuable information for both soldiers and civilians:
1. In an ordinary campaign sickness disables or destroys three times as many as the sword.
2. On a march, from April to November, the entire clothing should be a colored flannel shirt, with a loosely-buttoned collar, cotton drawers, woolen pantaloons, shoes and stockings, and a light colored felt hat, with broad brim to protect the eyes and face from the glare of the sun and from the rain, and a substantial but not heavy coat when off duty.
3. Sun-stroke is most effectually prevented by wearing a silk handkerchief in the crown of the hat.
4. Colored blankets are best, and if lined with brown drilling the warmth and durability are doubled, while the protection against dampness from lying on the ground is almost complete.
5. Never lie or sit down on the grass or bare earth for a moment, rather use your hat--a handkerchief, even, is a great protection. The warmer you are the greater need for this protection, as a damp vapor is immediately generated, to be absorbed by the clothing, and to cool you off too
rapidly.
6. While marching, or on other duty, the more thirsty you are the more essential is it to safety of life itself, to rinse out the mouth two or three times, and then take a swallow of water at a time, with short intervals. A brave French general, on a forced march, fell dead on the instant, by drinking largely of cold water, when snow was on the ground.
7. Abundant sleep is essential to bodily efficiency, and to that alertness of mind, which is all important to an engagement; and few things more certainly and more effectually prevent sound sleep than eating heartily after sun-down, especially after a heavy march or desperate battle.
8. Nothing is more certain to secure endurance and capability of long-continued effort, than the avoidance of everything as a drink except cold water, NOT excluding coffee at breakfast. Drink as little as possible of even cold water.
9. After any sort of exhausting effort, a cup of coffee, hot or cold, is an admirable sustainer of the strength, until nature begins to recover herself.
10. Never eat heartily just before a great undertaking; because the nervous power is irresistibly drawn to the stomach to manage the food eaten, thus drawing off that supply which the brain and muscles so much need.
11. If persons will drink brandy, it is incomparably safer to do so after an effort than before; for it can give only a transient strength, lasting but a few minutes; but as it can never be known how long any given effort is to be kept in continuance, and if longer than the few minutes, the body becomes more feeble than it would have been without the stimulus, it is clear that its use before an effort is always hazardous, and is always unwise.
12. Never go to sleep, especially after a great effort, even in hot weather, without some covering over you.
13. Under all circumstances, rather than lie down on the ground, lie in the hollow of two logs placed together, or across several smaller pieces of wood, laid side by side; or sit on your hat, leaning against a tree. A nap of ten or fifteen minutes in that position will refresh you more than an hour on the bare earth; with the additional advantage of perfect safety.
14. A cut is less dangerous than a bullet wound, and heals more rapidly.
15. If from any wound the blood spurts out in jets, instead of a steady stream, you will die in a few minutes, unless it is remedied; because an artery has been divided, and that takes the blood direct from the fountain of life. To stop this instantly, tie a handkerchief or other cloth very loosely BETWEEN the wound and the heart; put a stick, bayonet, or ramrod between the skin and the handkerchief, and twist it around until the bleeding ceases, and keep it thus till the surgeon arrives.
16. If the blood flows in a slow, regular stream, a vein has been pierced, and the handkerchief must be on the other side of the wound from the heart; that is, below the wound.
17. A bullet through the abdomen (belly or stomach) is more certainly fatal than if aimed at the head or heart; for in the latter cases the ball is often glanced off by the bone, or follows around it under the skin; but when it enters the stomach or bowels, from any direction, death is inevitable under all conceivable circumstances, but in scarcely ever instantaneous. Generally the person lives a day or two with perfect clearness of intellect, often not suffering greatly. The practical bearing of this statement in reference to the great future is clear.
18. Let the whole beard grow, but no longer than some three inches. This strengthens and thickens its growth, and thus makes a more perfect protection for the lungs against dust, and of the throat against winds and cold in winter, while in summer a great perspiration of the skin is induced, with the increase of evaporation; hence, greater coolness of the parts on the outside, while the throat is less feverish, thirsty and dry.
19. Avoid fats and fat meat in summer and in all warm days.
20. Whenever possible take a plunge into any lake or running stream every morning as soon as you get up; if none at hand, endeavor to wash the body all over as soon as you leave your bed, for personal cleanliness acts like a charm against all diseases, always either warding them off altogether or greatly mitigating their severity and shortening their duration.
21. Keep the hair of the head closely cut, say within an inch and a half of the scalp in every part, repeated on the first of each month, and wash the whole scalp plentifully in cold water every morning.
22. Wear woolen stockings and moderately loose shoes, keeping the toe and finger nails always cut close.
23. It is more important to wash the feet well every night than to wash the face and hands of mornings, because it aids in keeping the skin and nails soft, and to prevent chaffings, blisters, and corns, all of which greatly interfere with a soldier's duty.
24. The most universally safe position after all stunnings, hurts and wounds, is that of being placed on the back, the head being elevated three or four inches only, aiding more than any one thing else can do, to equalize and restore the proper circulation of the blood.
25. The more weary you are after a march or other work, the more easily will you take cold, if you remain still after it is over, unless, the moment you cease motion, you throw a coat or blanket over your shoulders. This precaution should be taken in the warmest weather, especially if there is even a slight air stirring.
26. The greatest physical kindness you can show a severely wounded comrade is first to place him on his back, and then run with all your might for some water to drink; not a second ought to be lost. If no vessel is at hand, take your hat; if no hat, off with your shirt, wring it out once, tie the arms in a knot, as also the lower end, thus making a bag, open at the neck only. A fleet person can convey a bucketful half a mile in this way. I've seen a dying man clutch at a single drop of water from the fingers' end, with the voraciousness of a famished tiger.
27. If wet to the skin by rain or by swimming rivers, keep in motion until the clothes are dried, no harm will result.
28. Whenever it is possible, do, by all means when you have to use water for cooking or drinking from ponds or sluggish streams, boil it well, and when cool, shake it, or stir it, so that the oxygen of the air shall get to it, which greatly improves it for drinking. This boiling arrests the process of fermentation which arises from the presence of organic and inorganic impurities, thus tending to prevent cholera and all bowel diseases. If there is no time for boiling, at least strain it through a cloth, even if you have to use a shirt or trouser leg.
29. Twelve men are hit in battle dressed in red where there are only five dressed in a bluish gray--a difference of more than two to one; green, seven; brown, six.
30. Water can be made almost ice cool in the hottest weather by closely enveloping a filled canteen, or other vessel, with woolen cloth, kept plentifully wetted and exposed.
31. While on a march lie down the moment you halt for a rest. Every minute spent in that position refreshes more than five minutes standing or loitering about.
32. A daily evacuation of the bowels is indispensable to bodily health, vigor and endurance; this is promoted in many cases by stirring a teaspoonful of corn (indian) meal in a glass of water, and drinking it on rising in the morning.
33. Loose bowels, namely, acting more than once a day, with a feeling of debility afterwards, is the first step towards cholera. The best remedy is instant and perfect quietude of body, eating nothing but boiled rice, with or without boiled milk; in more decided cases a woolen flannel, with two thicknesses in front, should be bound tightly around the abdomen, especially if marching is a necessity.
34. To "have been to the wars" is a life-long honor, increasing with advancing years, while to have died in defence [sic] of your country will be the boast and the glory of your children's children.

[hardtack1864]

Re: "Belly Bands"

That is a pretty neat article there, but don't listen to the part about drinking as little water as posible and I saw a another period article that said drink NO water what so ever! :tounge_sm

[Johan Steele]

Re: "Belly Bands"

Belly Bandswere a uniform item for several European powers, including France. The idea being that they kept several intestinal disorders at bay... the reality was that they did form a sort of back brace. THe material was similar to the NCO & officers sash. Intriguing article...

[ElizabethClark]

Re: "Belly Bands"

They're constructed similarly, and of similar materials, when is use for infants--a belly band of wool flannel is wrapped around the abdomen to "support the umbilicus" and provide spinal support to newborns.

[JACKSONVC]

Re: "Belly Bands"

They are great for abdominal cramps. They support the lower back by reinforcing weak stomach muscles, which is the primary cause of bad lower backs. They also provide extra warmth in the winter. I have seen one in the Gettysburg Museum, was made of white cotton flannel, I can't remember the overall length, but it did have two sets of ties at either end to secure it to the wearer.

[Moonshine]

Re: "Belly Bands"

Dixie Gun Works sold these some time ago... maybe 10 or more years and were original items. Don't recall if they were Civil War period or later though. I still have the catalog somewhere and the description relates the above info as having to do with protection from diseases.

Jim Ross