128 



FITNESS FOR TROPICAL LIFE 



Every tropical practitioner knows how much sickness and loss of 

 work is due, directly or indirectly, to venereal disease ; and we feel 

 that it is not too much, in the interests of the employer and the 

 employee alike, 1 o ask that the above should form part of the duties 

 of every medical examiner of candidates destined for the tropics. 

 We further submit that each health report should state clearly that 

 these duties have been carefully carried out by the examiner. 



Vaccination.^ — It is necessary that every selected candidate, before 

 final appointment, should produce a certificate that he has received 

 two injections of a vaccine prophylactic against typhoid and the 

 paratyphoid fevers, or of a so-called tetra- or penta-vaccine containing 

 in addition to the already mentioned three diseases, cholera or cholera 

 and plague. Evidence of Jennerian vaccination forms part of the 

 routine medical examination, and must not be older than seven years. 



Quinine. — Every selected candidate, before final appointment, 

 should produce a medical certificate that he is able to take a dose 

 of 10 grains of quinine without developing serious symptoms. 



Teeth.^ — No candidate should be finally selected for the tropics 

 until his teeth are in such a condition as to satisfy the examiner, or 

 until he produces a dentist's certificate to the effect that they are 

 in good order. 



Alcohol. — The objections to alcoholic candidates are so well 

 understood that the mere mention of this point is sufficient (see 

 Chapters IIL, V., and LVI.). 



Age. — ^We are convinced that no one under twenty-one years of 

 age or over fifty years should be allowed to proceed for service for 

 the first time in the tropics. We are also of the opinion that the 

 nearer the minimal age is to twenty-five years the better for 

 employer and employee alike. 



Heat and Sun. — Whatever personal views the examiner may have 

 as to the effects of heat and sun, he should nevertheless, as part of 

 his duties, warn the selected candidate as to the possible dangers of 

 careless exposure to the tropical sun and as to the effects of tropical 

 heat, and should acquaint him with methods of prophylaxis. He 

 should also give advice on clothing, as we have seen distinguished 

 visitors arrive in the tropics in clothing suitable for an English 

 winter. There are, of course, cold regions and cool seasons in the 

 tropics, but the cold is not generally felt by the new arrival from the 

 Temperate Zone. 



Energy.- — The selected candidate should be warned that, on first 

 arrival, he may not feel the heat of the tropics to be excessive. On 

 the other hand, he may feel that the climate suits him admirably, 

 and that he is full of energy for work and play, and should be told 

 that this state of affairs will not last for ever, and that, if he allows 

 his energy to outrun his common sense, there will be trouble. 



Moderation in all things should be indicated as the motto for a 

 tropical life. 



Duties of the Examiner. — We have insisted upon the medical 

 examiner giving advice upon various points to the selected candi- 



