REVIEW — TROPICAL MEDICINE, ETC. 35 



Forsyth and Dobden, in 1775, who found that they could remain for a few minutes in a room Climate— 

 at about 250"^ F. (121° C.) without serious inconvenience or marked rise of body temperature eoniimied 



althougli beef-steaks exposed in the room at the same time and place could be cooked within 

 13 minutes. Needless to relate the air was dry. A few of his conclusions may be cited, 

 (a) The rectal temperature did not show any abnormal increase during rest in still air until 

 the temperature by the wet-bulb thermometer reached about 88° F. (31° C.) provided the 

 subjects were stripped to the waist or clad in light flannel, {li) In moving air (with the wet- 

 bulb still below the body temperature) a higher wet-bulb temperature could be borne without 

 abnormal rise of rectal temperature, (c) The symptoms observed to accompany the rise of 

 body temperature were — (1) a marked increase in the pulse-rate, accompanied by throbbing 

 in the head; (2) dyspnoea, particularly on any exertion; and (3) a general feeling of exhaustion 

 and discomfort. These he points out depend to some extent on other causes than the rise 

 of body temperature as indicated by the rectal thermometer. 



Tyler' has introduced a new scheme for correlating personal sensations as regards 

 climatic conditions with the ordinary measurement recorded by meteorological instruments. 

 His paper is very erudite, and we may merely note that he finds that, except for any dry 

 conditions of the atmosphere, the readings of the wet-bulb thermometer indicate very closely 

 the degree of discomfort experienced due to temperature and humidity, and that these 

 readings, or what he calls his " hyther "^ degrees, form the best available means for comparing 

 cliraEites. It is not possible here to discuss the question of the climate of the Sudan, for at 

 least three distinct varieties exist ; that of the Eed Sea littoral, that of the dry, sandy 

 northern regions, and that of the humid and rainy south. Doubtless also the desert climate 

 is modified by proximity to rivers, by elevation as in Kordofan, by the presence of vegetation 

 as in some parts of the Kassala province. Some allusion to the climate of Khartoum will 

 be found under " Sanitary Notes," this being the only part of the country about which one 

 can speak as a result of any prolonged experience, and even then five years is no great 

 length of time considering how climatic conditions often run in cycles. 



Clothing. This question as regards the Tropics is briefly discussed in Woodruff's 

 book," but with special reference to the Philippines. It is pointed out that the outer day 

 clothing should be white, grey, or yellow, the colours which absorb heat least ; but, as White 

 clothing freely transmits the actinic rays which are dangerous to the nervous system of 

 white men, and the light rays said to produce skin disease in blondes, the underclothing 

 should be opaque and black or yellow in colour. 



Sambon's paper* advocating the use of " Solaro " fabrics may be read with advantage, 

 this cloth being a successful attempt to obtain the ideal fabric for the white man 

 in the Tropics, i.e. one which will at the same time exclude the harmful, short or actinic 

 rays and reflect the heat rays, thus avoiding complexity of garments and much unnecessary 

 weight. 



Duke, in his pamphlet on cholera, strongly condemns the persistent use of a thick belt or 

 kummerbund. It acts like a poultice, weakens the abdominal organs and actually tends 

 to increase the action of the bowels. This, of course, does not apply to its use at night, 

 especially when sleeping out of doors where there is a risk of chill. 



A very practical and up-to-date paper, which takes care to consider tropical conditions, 

 is that by Chesney.'' The proper clothing for women receives due notice. Absorbent 

 materials for underwear are condemned, and light non-absorbent clothing, which of necessity 

 has to be frequently washed, is recommended. The author notes that in the Tropics the 

 wearing of a cholera belt is not now an article of faith, and acquiesces in the more modern 

 ideas regarding its usefulness. 



' Tyler, W. P. (.A-pril 1.5th, 1907), " The Psycho-Physical aspect of Climate, with .1 Theory concerning 

 Intensities of Sensation." Journal of Tropical Medicine, p. 1-30. 



^ " Hyther" — the joint effect of temperature and humidity on human sensation. 



" Woodruff, "The Effects of Tropic.il Light on White Men." London, 190,5. 



■* Sambon, L. W. (February 15th, 1907), " Tropical Clothing." Journal of Tropical Medicine ami Hygiene" 

 p. 67, Vol. X. 



= Chesney, L. M. (July, 1908), '■ Hygienic Clothing and Disease." Journal of the Royal Institute of Public 

 Health, Vol. XVI., No. 3. 



