54 



MANUAL OF TUE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. IV, 

 PART II. 



Physicai, and 



Medical 

 Climate, &c. 



First 



transitory 

 effects of 

 climate. 



Dangers of 



undue 



exposure. 



Early rising 

 nndeairable. 



BatLing. 



damp, well-made boots and woollen stockings should be worn : by 

 this means many an attack of diarrhoea or other illness may be 

 warded off. Wet clothing should always be changed on a return 

 home ; with this precaution, exposure in the rain seldom does any 

 harm. It will be well for visitors at this season of the year to 

 come provided with light, well- ventilated, water-proof clothing 

 for use as occasion may require. 



Owing to the exhilarating effect of the climate, the visitor on 

 first arrival usually feels inclined to exert himself far beyond his 

 strength, and the appetite, generally keen for the time being, is 

 indulged. Invalids particularly should be cautious in these 

 respects. Visitors on first arrival are apt to be affected with 

 oppression of the breathing, sleeplessness, headache, and coldness 

 of the extremities arising from the highly-rarified state of the 

 atmosphere. These symptoms generally pass off after a short 

 residence. 



It should also be remembered that the low temperature on 

 these hills is due to elevation, and not latitude. That the almost 

 vertical sun's rays, shining with great fierceness through a rarified 

 atmosphere, are at certain seasons of the year as powerful as 

 when experienced on the plains, and that the alternations of 

 temperature, and particularly the rapid fall which follows sun-set, 

 are fruitful sources of derangement of the. principal functions. 

 From a consideration of the above peculiarities of climate, the 

 importance of wearing suitable clothing, protection to the head 

 from the sun's rays, and of avoiding undue exposure to cold 

 will be apparent. In the case of young children, especially those 

 lately arrived, unsuitable clothing and exposure to the cun are 

 frequent sources of disease. Woollen under-clothing should 

 always be worn by such. With care and attention to these details, 

 children usually do remarkably well. 



Amongst adults lately arrived, exposure to cold causes tempo- 

 I'ary congestion of the internal organs, more particularly of the 

 liver, due to sudden chill and cessation of the action of the skin. 

 Hence it follows that this climate must be prejudicial in all 

 cases of visceral disease, and those predisposed to weakness of 

 this nature should be provided with a flannel belt to be worn 

 round the loins and stomach. A comfortable over-coat or warm 

 wrappers should always be worn after sun-set, particularly if 

 from any cause perspiration may have been induced. 



The habit of early rising so necessary in the plains is not 

 desirable here ; between seven and eight o'clock is sufficiently 

 early, and delicate persons and children should not venture out 

 until the sun has warmed the atmosphere and dissipated mist. 



As to bathing in cold water, strong healthy people may 

 generally do so from the first with advantage, but it is desirable 



