SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. 57 



A safety razor blade disinfected by boiling makes an excellent 

 substitute for a surgical knife. 



Thorn Scratches and Veld Sores. Apart from the more serious 

 complaints that a traveller anywhere in Africa suffers from are 

 thorn scratches and tick bites, which are apt to develop into very 

 distressing veld-sores. The cause of these sores is said to be an 

 attenuated virus of septicaemia and they can only be prevented by 

 the immediate attention to every scratch or tick bite. The best from 

 of treatment is the immediatie application of tincture of iodine and 

 a bandage. Where a thorn has to be extracted the needle or im- 

 plement used should first be sterilised by passing it through the 

 flame of a match. Where a sore has once formed or the slightest 

 fester begun either on man or animal it is useless putting on any 

 iodine, ointment or dressing until the sore has first been thoroughly 

 cleaned of all pus and dead skin. In the case of sores in the hand 

 or foot this is best accomplished by sitting down and thoroughly 

 soaking the limb in a basin of hot water in which a little mild 

 antiseptic has been dissolved. When the wound is once thoroughly 

 cleansed iodoform or any of the ordinary dresings, or a hot water 

 compress will be found quite effective. 



With regard to antiseptics for dressing wounds either on men or 

 animals most people are inclined to use these much too strong, so 

 that the antiseptic destroys the healing tissues. This is especially 

 the case with corrosive sublimate tabloids which should never be 

 used stronger than directed on the bottle. It may be noted that 

 the ordinary anti-friction grease of commerce is an excellent dressing 

 for a wound in lieu of a better. 



Ticks. Practically the whole of Africa is infested with ticks and 

 the traveller often finds himself covered with the nymphs. These 

 are slightly larger than the English harvest bug and equally irri- 

 tating, often producing a high temperature. They are so small and 

 occur in such numbers that it is often quite impossible to pick them 

 off, but a rub of grease or paraffin soon gets rid of them. The 

 larger ticks are very apt to cause festering sores when pulled off 

 after once having buried their heads in the flesh. They are best 

 got rid of by dropping hot candle grease on them or smothering 

 them in grease or some greasy salve, when they drop off by themselves. 



Jigger Fleas. In East Africa "jigger fleas" (Dermatophilus (sar- 

 copsylla) penetrans), which bury themselves under the toe nails, 



