SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. 59 



travellers and prospectors pin their faith on them in so far as 

 snake bite is concerned. 



Malaria and Blackwater Fever. Malaria and Blackwater fever 

 have been the main deterrents to the exploration of the interior of 

 Africa, and, notwithstanding the great advances made in tropical 

 hygiene, yearly claim many victims. 



On the subject of malaria it is best to be guided by the advice 

 given in standard medical works; the great point in this treatment 

 being to administer quinine at the correct time, viz: just before 

 the parasites break out of the red corpuscles of the blood. This is 

 best determined by means of a temperature chart. 



The prophylactic use of quinine either bi-sulphate or bi- 

 hydrochloride cannot be too strongly recommended though it is 

 a great mistake to take it too much. In the East African campaign 

 excellent results were obtained by making the soldiers take a 

 5-grain (uncoated) tabloid on each of two consecutive days at 

 intervals of three days, the process being repeated regularly. 



Quinine is best taken with a little water just before meals. 

 "With regard to the more virulent disease known as Blackwater- 

 fever there is a theory that this is largely brought about in 

 malarious patients by malnutrition owing to lack of vitamines in 

 their food. One of the writers has been much impressed with this 

 theory, for in a long experience of prospecting camps and pioneering 

 in malarious districts he has always noticed that those men who 

 live on tinned stuffs and alcohol, are far more prone to contract 

 this disease than those who take pains to obtain vegetables, milk, 

 eggs, butter and foods known to be rich in the vitamines. 

 He would strongly impress on every man going into the wilderness 

 that his chances of health depend more largely on the selection of 

 a reasonable diet, than on anything else. 



As regards the treatment of Blackwater-fever the authors are 

 happily in possession of some hitherto unpublished notes by the 

 late Dr. P. A. Nightingale, an acknowledged authority on the 

 subject with many years of practical experience in Rhodesia and 

 the Far East. These may be summarised as follows: 



1. The patient should be put to bed at once, warmly covered 

 up with blankets and not allowed to get up on any account 

 even for a single minute until the urine has been absolutely 

 clear and normal for at least a week. 



2. Heat should be applied over the kidney areas. This can be 



