HYGIENE OF COLLECTORSHIP. 19 



§ 4, — HYGIENE OF COLLECTORSHIP. 



It is Unnecessary to speak of the Healthfulness (jf a pursuit that, like the collector's 

 (iccnpatioii, detiiaiids reguUir bodily exercise, aud at the same time stiuiulates the miud by 

 svipplying an oljject, thus caUiug the whole system into exliilarating action. Yet collei'ting 

 lias its perils, not to be overlooked if we would adequately guard against them, as fortunately 

 we may, in most cases, by simple precautions. The dangers of taxidermy itself are elsewhere 

 noticed; but, besides these, the collector is exposed to vicissitudes of the weather, may endure 

 great fatigu(!, may breathe miasm, and may be mechanically injured. 



Accidents from tlie Gun have been already treated ; a few special rules will render 

 others little liable to cjccur. Tlu' secret of safe climbiny is never to relax one bcdd until anotlier 

 is secured ; it is in sjtirit equally applicable to scrambling over rocks, a particularly difficult 

 thing to do safely with a loaded gun. Test rotten, slip])ery, or otherwise suspicious h(jlds 

 before trusting tliiiiii. In lifting the body up anywhere, keep tire mouth shut, breathe 

 through the no.strils, and go slowly. In siHmminy, waste no strength unnecessarily in trying 

 to stenr a current; yitdd partly, and land obliquely lower down; if exhausted, float; the 

 slightest motion of the hands will ordinarily keej) the face above water; and in any event keep 

 youi- wits collecteil. In fording deeply, a heavy stone will strengtlien your position. Never 

 sail a boat experimentally; if you are no sailor, take oije with you or stay on land. In cross- 

 ing a high, narr(j\\' footpath, n<'ver look loAver than yfiur feet ; the muscles will Avork true if 

 not confused with faltering instructions from a giddy brain. On soft ground, see what, if 

 anything, has preceded you; large hoof-marks generally mean that tlie way is .safe; if none 

 are found, in(piire for yourself before going on. Quicksand is the most treacherous, because 

 far more dangerous than it looks ; but I hav(; seen a mule's ears finally disappear in genuine 

 mud. Cattle paths, however erratic^, commonly prove the surest way out <jf a difiicult place, 

 whether of uncertain footing or dense undergrowth. 



Miasm Unguarded ex])osure in malarious regions usually entails sickness, often pre- 



ventablci, however, by due precautions. It is worth knowing, in the first place, that miasmatic 

 poison is most powerful between sunset and sunrise ; more exactly, from the damp of the 

 evening until night vapors are dissipated ; we may l)e out in the daytime with comparative 

 impunity, where to pass a night would be almost certain disease. If forced to camji out, seek 

 the highest and drycst .spot, put a good fire on the .swamp side, and also, if possible, let trees 

 intervene. Never go out on an empty stomach ; just a cup of ciift'ee aud a crust may make a 

 decided difference. Meet the earliest unfav(jrable symptoms with qtiinine; I should rather say, 

 if unacclimated, anticipjate them with this invaluable agent. Endeavor to maintain high 

 health of all functituis by the natural means of regularity and temperance in diet, exercise, and 

 repose. 



" Taking Cold." — This v;igue " household word " indicates one or more of a long varied 

 train (jf unpleasant afl'ections, nearly alM-ays traceable to one or the otJn.'r of only two causes: 

 sudden chamje of temperature, and unequal distrihution of temperatui'e. No extremes of heat 

 or ccild can alone efiect this result; persons frozen to death do not "take cold " during the 

 pr(j<;ess. But if a [lart of the body bo rapidly cooled, as by evaporation from a wet article of 

 clothing, or by sitting in a draught of air, the rest of the body remaining at an ordinary tem- 

 perature ; or if the temperature of the whole be suddenly changed by going out into the cold, 

 or, especially, by coming into a warm room, there is much liability of trouble. There is an 



old saying, — 



" WIicii the air comes through a ho]o 

 Say your prayere to save yonr soul ; '* 



