The drinking of very cold water, to which there is great temptation when
one is exhausted by prolonged heat and copious perspiration, should
be carefully avoided; thirst often induces tropical residents to have
recourse to iced water, which is always apt to be dangerous if taken
when one is heated. The drinking of copious draughts of water is also a
habit to be deprecated; it certainly weakens the muscular energy, and as
the water is rapidly lost by perspiration, the feeling of exhaustion is
increased. Hot or cold weak tea, without milk or sugar, is one of the
least injurious of all beverages.
_Precautions on the Voyage._
The traveller should endeavour to land in a perfectly healthy condition,
and to this end he should on the voyage out take plenty of exercise,
drink little or no alcohol, be moderate as to diet, and avoid much meat
and rich dishes. Neglect of these obvious rules frequently ends in the
traveller arriving in a flabby, bilious condition, in which state he is
predisposed to attacks of malaria, dysentery, and other diseases.
Constipation is frequent at sea, and a seidlitz powder, a dose of fruit
salt, or one or two cascara tabloids may be necessary. If constipation is
severe, then one or two four-grain blue pills should be taken at bedtime,
followed in the early morning by a seidlitz powder or some other saline
aperient.
In order to avoid chill the traveller should be properly clothed during
the evening or when there is a cool breeze, and should not stand in
draughty doorways and passages on board. If he is proceeding to a country
where there is endemic malaria he should begin his course of prophylactic
quinine on ship-board, because even a single night spent ashore in
a malarious locality may result in his acquiring infection. It is
therefore advisable to begin taking quinine in the manner described on p.
207 at least two days before arrival at the place of disembarkation.
What is true of the journey out is of even greater importance on the
voyage home. There is a serious danger of illness owing to chills
contracted on board ship when leaving a hot climate. Quinine should be
systematically taken as recommended on p. 208.
GENERAL HINTS.
_Never take a cold bath in the Tropics unless ordered to do so by a
doctor._—In the case of persons who have already suffered from many
attacks of fever, dysentery, or any disease of the liver or other
important organs, warm bathing should alone be used. Bathing should
never be resorted to during the period of digestion, _i.e._, three to
four hours after meals. Wear warm clothes at night. Avoid the direct
rays of the sun. Do not take too much animal food. Never begin work on
an empty stomach. Never neglect a slight attack of fever or diarrhœa.
Keep the bowels gently opened—once a day is quite enough—but avoid strong
purgatives.
_Vaccination._
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