HYGIENE 



537 



a good passage bet^veen them. Each bed should have 36 square feet 

 (4 square metres), for the hospital 54 square feet (6 square metres) each 

 (Bengal Jail Code). Solitary cells should have 75 superficial feet 

 (8 metres) and a cubic space of 1,000 feeto 



Drinking water must be sterile. Latrines must be well controlled. 



If a prisoner loses more than four pounds in weight in two weeks 

 he should be sent to the Medical Officer. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HOT CLIMATES ON EUROPEANS. 



The effects of hot climates upon individuals vary according to the 

 humidity, altitude, sedentary occupation, town or countrv life, habits, 

 &c. The climate has been blamed for much that has been due to 

 insanitarv conditions, alcoholism and other excesses, but when all 

 pathological conditions are ruled out the following generally hold good 

 until acclimatization has taken place, a process requiring two to four 

 years : — 



(i) There is a greater supply of blood to the surface of the body 

 accompanied by excess of skin functions, e.g., pigmentation and 

 increased perspiration. Persons who cannot perspire should not 

 reside in tropical countries, as perspiration is the chief means of main- 

 taining a normal body temperature. 



(2) The body temperature of an European in the tropics is slightlv 

 above the normal until thoroughly acclimatized. It is increased 

 o"05° F. for every 1° F. increase above the average normal temperature. 

 Exercise, tight-fitting and unsuitable clothing will raise the body 

 temperature. 



(3) Owing to the modified distribution of the blood, the capacitv 

 of the lungs increases, more blood is drawn out and more air enters, 

 thus reducing the weight of the lungs. As respirations are decreased 

 in number the lungs actually do less work than in temperate countries. 

 One must also remember that tropical air is rarefied and contains less 

 oxygen than cold air, consequently less carbon dioxide is taken off in 

 a given time, and there is a tendency to retain carbonaceous matter 

 in the blood. 



Nine per cent, less oxygen in inspired at 80° F. (27° C.) than at 

 32° F. (0° C). 



(4) As the pulse is slowed and respiration slightlv impaired the 

 heart's action is weakened and the vital organs are less well nourished; 

 hence there are diminished vigour, general debility, anaemia, 

 irritabilitv, nervous depression, sleeplessness and irritabilitv (the 

 tropical fury of Phehn). 



(5) O'Connell in 1909 sought to show that exposure to a damp- 

 tropical climate could cause an intermittent fever with haemolysis. 



