CARDWELL, Edward, viscount.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Army (Infantry Equipment). Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated 6 August 1870. Copies of the Reports made by Major General Eyre's Committee on Infantry Equipment to the Secretary of State for War: First and only edition of this important report on the high incidence of heart and lung disease among recruits, identifying the chief cause as excessive exertion while wearing constrictive kit. Copies are uncommon, with only three institutional holdings located.Convened in 1864 under Major General Eyre, the Committee on Infantry Equipment drew on medical testimony and data from across the army to assess drill practices, evaluate the effects of existing knapsacks and accoutrements, and test new yoke-and-brace systems. The report includes statistical tables and nine lithograph plates illustrating both current and proposed modes of carrying equipment.Produced in the context of the Cardwell Reforms and in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War, the study formed part of a broader effort to modernize the British Army by improving the health of short-service soldiers and professionalizing training and equipment. Though contentious at the time, these reforms ultimately provided the foundation for a more efficient and medically informed army.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.