56 WAGNER and TREVOR 



The dust and grime of the veld soon blunt an ordinary razor 

 beyond redemption by stropping. Safety razors and a strong supply 

 of blades are, therefore, recommended. 



A pair of hair-clippers, or safety hair-cutter, should also be 

 carried as it is advisable to keep the hair fairly closely cropped. 



To those who burn or chafe much, a supply of talc powder and 

 lypsyl will be found to justify their inclusion in the outfit; while 

 a bottle of eau de cologne, in which a few drops of oil of ,,winter- 

 green" have been mixed, makes an extraordinary soothing lotion 

 for chapping produced by desert winds. Another small bottle of 

 eau de cologne with a larger proportion of oil of citronella is also 

 very useful, as an application prevents flies, mosquitos and other 

 insects settling on one for at least half an hour afterwards; often 

 enabling the traveller to eat a meal in peace, which would other- 

 wise be impossible. 



One or more tooth brushes and a plentiful supply of tooth powder 

 are of course essential. 



As regards soap carbolic or coal tar are to be preferred by reason 

 of their antiseptic properties. 



7. MEDICINES AND CARE OF THE PERSON. 



A knowledge of first aid and bandaging are absolutely essential 

 to anyone about to undertake an expedition in the wilds of Africa. 

 Those who do not possess such knowledge are strongly recom- 

 mended to take a short course in these subjects before starting out. 

 The subject of medicines is fully dealt with in standard books 

 of travel and will therefore only briefly be touched upon. The 

 traveller is advised above all things to carry an extravagant supply 

 of Epsom salts, as these are not only useful for men and animals, 

 but are often sought for in barter by natives. 



In addition to Epsom salts the medicine chest should contain the 

 following : 



Hypodermic syringe ; surgical scissors and knife ; Hemostatic 

 forceps and tooth forceps; straight and curved surgical needles 

 and silk ; sheet wadding ; cyanide gauze ; boracic lint ; bandages ; 

 oiled silk : fountain syringe ; quinine ; aspirin ; calomel ; morphine 

 sulphate tabloids; opium pills; chlorodyne; Dover's powders; 

 vegetable laxative pills; cascara pills; castor oil; corrosive 

 sublimate tabloids ; tincture of iodine ; potassium permanganate ; 

 boric acid; zinc ointment; sulphur ointment, oil of cloves and 

 anti-venom toxin. 



