85 



parts of Italy without fear of taking the fever. The following summary will, we 

 trust, prove of service. 



Kl'LES FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH IN AGUE DISTRICTS. 



1 . Build your house on a height, to the windward side of any swampy ground or marsh, and 

 if possible let a piece of water or belt of trees intervene. 



2. Don't cut down the trees round your house, but encourage their cultivation. 



3. Sleep at the top of the house, and see that all your windows are shut at sunset. 



4. Don't be out after nightfall, and don't go out early in the morning, and never before 

 breakfast. 



5. If you must be out at night, don't lie down, and don't stop under trees. 



6. Don't drink water over which the ague poison has passed. 



7. Live generously, but not too freely, and take a moderate amount of stimulant. 



8. Take a course of quinine occasionally. 



It is obviously the duty of the master of the house to make his servants and 

 dependents acquainted with the best methods of avoiding ague, if they are new 

 to the country. It would be advisable for him to serve out quinine all round 

 occasionally, and if the purpose for which it is given is explained, no difficulty will 

 ever be made about taking it, particularly if a little spirit and water be added to 

 wash it down. 



What is the best method of treating ague '} In the first place, is it necessary to 

 send for a doctor 1 In tliis country ague is so readily cured that professional aid is 

 hardly necessary, and if you have your wits about you, you can as a rule dispense 

 with medical attendance. In other countries, however, particularly if the j>eople 

 are known to suffer severely from the complaint, you had better send for the brst 

 advice yon can get. 



Supposing, then, you determine to treat the case yourself, what are you to do 1 

 In the first place, as regards the fit, what is to be done during the paroxysm. ? The 

 patient's own feelings are a very good guide. During the cold stage you should 

 cover him up well, apply hot water bottles to his feet, and give him sometliing hot 

 but not strong to drink. Dining the warm stage you will find that he will throw 

 < >ti' the bed-clothes, and ask for some cooling beverage, and there is not the slightest 

 nhjrction to his having it. During the sweating stage he is comparatively 

 comfortable, and there is nothing to be done except to wipe the skin dry, if the 

 sweating should be very profuse. Above all, don't interfere too much. Don't keep 

 on talking to him under the impression that you are doing him good, for you are in 

 all probability worrying him to death. When a man is really ill he doesn't want to 

 be bothered with questions. It is no good asking him where he thinks he got it, or 

 worrying him every moment about how his head feels now. It is easy enough to 

 talk when you are well, but when you've got the ague you've something else to do. 

 Sit down by the bed-side quietly, and if you can help the patient do so, but don't be 

 officious. You must remember that in ague there is often a good deal of irritation 

 of the bladder, and that in certain cases your occasional absence from the room 

 would be desirable. 



Now what is to be done when the fit is over ] A good many remedies have at 

 one time and another been recommended for ague, but quinine is our sheet-anchor. 



