384 THE ETIOLOGY OF TROPICAL DISEASES 



In the second place, the roof should be made of netting similar to the 

 other parts of the net, and not of cloth. Thirdly, during the day, 

 when the net is not being used, it should be hung up in such a way 

 as to prevent mosquitoes entering it. Fourthly, the mesh of the net 

 should be sufficiently fine to effect its purpose, and should contain 

 no rents, holes, or other apertures. Where punkahs are available, 

 they should swing above the mosquito net. 



Again, habits of life, especially temperateness and moderation, 

 not sleeping in the open air, living as far as possible in healthy 

 houses, not frequenting native quarters after sunset, and not 

 associating with native children, are methods by which to avoid being 

 bitten. It is now well known that in malarious towns and districts 

 the great majority of native children harbour the malarious parasites 

 in their blood, and therefore segregation is a necessary preventive 

 method. Europeans' houses should be built at a distance from the 

 native quarters. 



The experiments of Sambon and Low, of Oelli, of Grassi, of Fermi, 

 and Tonsini, and of the Eed Cross Society of Italy, have demonstrated 

 beyond all question that it is practicable to construct habitable houses 

 which shall be mosquito-proof.* 



Lastly, probably some protection is obtained by means of 

 perfumes, washes, pomades, soaps, etc., though these should not be 

 relied upon. Certainly flannel clothing is a great advantage. 



4. Quinine. — When it is too late for preventive measures the 

 time has come for isolation, disinfection of rooms containing infected 

 mosquitoes, and treatment. A person with malaria is always a risk 

 to other persons, and should be isolated as far as practicable. Infected 

 rooms should be disinfected with gaseous disinfectants, such as 

 sulphur or formic aldehyde. Quinine is the specific remedy in 

 treatment. It acts not only as an antipyretic but as a specific drug, 

 destroying the parasite in the blood. For an ordinary intermittent 

 fever the dose of quinine may be 10 grains, given when the sweating 

 stage commences, followed by 5 grains every six or eight hours for a 

 week, and with a view of preventing relapse 5 grains three times 

 every fifth, sixth, or seventh day for two or three months. Five to 

 ten grains of quinine twice a week or oftener, tends to prevent or 

 abate incipient malarial infection. 



2. Cholera 



This word is used to denote a group of diseases rather than one 

 specific well-restricted disease. In recent years it has become 

 customary to speak of Asiatic cholera and British cholera, as if, 

 indeed, they were two quite different diseases. But, as a matter 



* Practitioner, March 1901, p. 262. 



