SANITARY NOTES. KHARTOUM 
Protection 
from light and 
heat 
GA 
necessary. It is known that exposure to an excessive amount of sunlight is harmful, causing 
nervous and other diseases ; the black man is already sufficiently protected from tlie injurious 
light rays by the pigmentation of his skin, and he has, therefore, only to shield himself from 
the beat rays. The white man, on the other hand, must be protected from both the light and 
the heat rays, yet he is very often to be found living in houses in the Tropics which are 
obviously only suitable for temperate climates, and in which even a black man would feel 
uncomfortable. The native houses are generally well darkened, with only a tew small 
openings, and they are often really healthier than the houses occupied by the white men. 
Eesidence in dark houses appears to be practically harmless. The early cave dwellers of 
Europe carried on the human species for millenniums in perfect health. 
The ancient Eomans understood the effects of light, and it was one of their axioms 
that “ a man must protect himself from the rays of the sun.” The Americans in the 
Phih 2 )pines seem to have neglected this, with disastrous results, and in this connection 
Major C. E. Woodruff, U.S.A.,' says that “ The Sjjaniards who lived in the Philipi^ines did 
not a 2 )preciate the dangers of light because they were brunettes and they made but little 
^irovision in their homes to escape the dangers. Blonde Teutons in India, on the other hand, 
see the necessity for this jirotection, and build great covered ^Jorchos around their houses for 
this express jjurpose. As far as I have learned, Americans are falling into Spanish ways and 
making no provision to jn’oteot themselves from the fatal rays of light. American houses must 
have big verandahs whose roofs come well down. It is safe to say that there is not a residence 
house in the Philippine Islands tit for a blonde man to live in. I challenge contradiction 
of this violent statement. 
‘‘ The roof of a porch or verandah must come down so low that a i)erson seated in the 
room cannot see the sky; that is, the lower edge must he about four feet above the floor line, 
or approximate screens he built to that level.” 
There are certain important points in connection with a dwelling-house in the Tropics 
which ought to he borne in mind when either building or selecting a house. 
Site .—It is better that the house should not be in the midst of native huts, or near 
stagnant water. An elevated and dry site, on sloiiing ground but not in a hollow, should 
always be chosen if ^lossible. 
Foundations.— On a sandy clay, such as is found on the hanks of the river Nile, the 
foundation should he carried deeji enough to avoid disturhance hy the surface cracks. From 
POO to 2'00 metres is generally sufficient, and the maximum load on the foundation should not 
exceed one ton ^Jer square foot (1 kilo, per sq. centimetre). If the liuilding is near the river edge 
this load ought to he somewhat reduced, or the foundation reinforced with steel, to jirevent 
cracking of the walls caused by the rise and fall in the water level and the consequent unequal 
settlement. 
On a site liable to be flooded the ground floor should be at high flood level, and all walls 
should be substantially built up to that level, and a damp-jn-oof course of bituminous sheeting 
or other material inserted. 
Walls . — In a dry locality, mud walls may be quite satisfactory, and they have the 
advantage in that they do not retain and radiate the heat like stone or brick walls. Where 
heavy rains are to be exjjected it is, of course, advisable to build in brick or stone. The ceilings 
need not be higher than 4-00 metres, which is sufficient for ventilation purposes. Masonry 
walls should be protected by verandahs from the direct rays of the sun, as, if not so protected, 
they will heat uj) during the day and radiate the heat all night. 
Ventihitors in the walls near the roof are a great advantage, and they should be made to 
Woodruff, C. E., The Effects of Tropical Light on White Men." London : Itebman, 190-5. 
