GO CUBA AND l'OKTO RICO 



West Indies except those under British rule, from which 

 it has Imvh eliminated by perfect quarantine and internal 



sanitation. It is essentially a disease of the sea-coast, and 

 especially of Large cities in an unsanitary condition; but 

 when circumstances are favorable it may extend into the 

 interior, following routes of travel, and especially navigable 

 livers, of which there are but few in Cuba. 



It is, however, confined to the lower levels, even in 

 tropical or subtropical regions. In the Antilles the disease 

 rarely prevails at an altitude above seven hundred feet, 

 and hence a large part of Cuba is free from it. 



In these pages I have endeavored to eliminate personal 

 experiences, but while on the subject of health and sani- 

 tation I am tempted to depart from this rule. The greater 

 part of my life has been spent in traveling in unsanitary 

 regions, including many years in the worst plague-spots of 

 the tropics. By taking advantage of the best hygienic 

 rules and precautions, I have been able to avoid the fatality 

 which has overtaken many of my predecessors in geological 

 exploration. 



Three rules I have followed invariably: first, to adapt 

 my habits of dress, food, and hours of work and rest to 

 those of the people of the country ; secondly, never in any 

 circumstances to drink a drop of native water where it 

 could possibly be avoided, and if so always to boil it. For 

 this purpose I have always carried an alcohol-lamp and a 

 tin canteen, in which, when boiled water could not other- 

 wise be obtained, I could myself attend to the matter. 

 Twice when, in desperation after tedious exercises, I yielded 

 to the temptation of drinking the native water unboiled, the 

 results were almost fatal. The third rule has been never 

 to linger around the densely crowded and unsanitary areas 

 of cities, and always to choose a room facing on the 

 street. 



I have also carefully avoided the temptation to eat any 

 kinds of fruits which may be offered, especially bananas, 

 which, in the tropics, have an unpleasant acidity that 



