S6e 
YHfr TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [June ft, 1S90 
tion is dependent entirely upon the over-powering 
morbid influence of beat on the great nerve centres. 
Contrary to the popularly accepted opinion that direct 
exposure to the sun is essential to the production of 
sunstroke or beat apoplexy, it is a conspicuous fact, 
that this malady is of most frequent and fatal occur- 
rence in hot and steamy weather, when the atmosphere 
Beems too thick to be breathed, when the buttoned 
coat and the stiff linen collar seem a positive burden, 
when the European envies the loose flimsy garb of 
the Indian, and wishes that fashion would relax its 
cast iron rules and permit of comfort and ease in the 
art of dress in India, In such days we have cases of 
sunstroke or heatstroke as it is more appropriately 
termed, taking place in those who have not ventured 
out of doors for a moment. They occur in the barrack 
room, in the tents of onr military camps when qua- 
rantine is being observed, in the sheds along for 
wharves, in the ' tween decks of ships in our port, in 
the most sheltered, sultry places, but chiefly in con- 
fined, ill-ventilated rooms, where there is no play or 
fresh air. Heatstroke, though a dreadful malady, is 
fortunately preventible. Precautionary or prophylaotic 
measures are sufficient to lessen and even to remove 
the risks of the occurrence. Light, loose clothing, the 
disuse of tight collars especially, light meals, a free 
state of the bowels, sufficient protection to the head 
while out of doors by means of a light double-cham- 
bered ventilated helmet or sola-bat, and the usual 
Anglo-Indian contrivances for keeping one's room cool 
by means of punkahs, tatties and tbermantidotes. The 
free use of drinks made from the sub-acid fruits so 
common in the country (limes, tamarind, pomegranate) 
are not only grateful and delicious but absolutely 
cooling. Their refrigerant action calms the heated 
and excited circulation, and affords a salutary protec- 
tion against the enervating effects of the sun's beat. 
All alcoholic stimulants ought to be most rigidly es- 
chewed. The treatment of a case of surjstroke may be 
summed up in three words ; reduce the temperature. 
It is the excessive heat that kills, by paralysing the 
heart. Loosen all the clothing, put ice or cold water 
to the head. If possible, strip the patient of all cloth- 
ing and douche the whole body with cold water, apply 
ice to the spine, administer a copious clyster of warm 
soap water. If the stomach is gorged, give an emetic 
of mustard, sulphate of zinc or ipecac powder. Large 
half ounce doses of the liquor ammonia acetatis act 
beneficially in lowering the temperature, while they 
prevent the prostration that is almost inevitable. 
When the head and face are much cyanosed, the 
prompt application of a dozen leeches to the temples 
minimises the danger of cerebral effusion and death. 
Heat exhaustion is a totally different condition to 
heatstroke, and it would be serious to wrongly dis- 
criminate between the two. While dependent upon 
the same morbid overpowering influence of heat, it is 
wben considered with sunstroke, a comparatively mild 
affection. It occurs chiefly in ill-conditioned children, 
in weakly persons who have much mental work or 
worry, and in hysterical women. It does not differ in 
its symptoms from ether conditions of acute exhaus- 
tion. Presenting itself when the heat is oppressive it 
is likely to be mistaken for sunstroke by the unini- 
tiated. The manifestations are diametrically opposed 
however. The face is blanched and covered with a 
clammy perspiration, the pupils are dilated, the pulse 
quick and thready, the breathing is gasping, and the 
expression one of death-like ghastliness, with a marked 
tendency to Bjncope. The use of gentle diffusible 
stimulants, absolute rest, freedom from all nervous 
excitement, with the restorative action of nutritious 
soups and gruels make recovery an easy matter in 
twenty-four hours. — Medical Record. 
THE KOLAK GOLD FIELD, S. INDIA. 
Apeil Results. 
Mining operations at the Kolar Gold Field were 
greatly interfered with last month by the prevalence 
of influenza among the miners. A largo number 
of eoolies yielded to panic, and returned to their homes 
in Malabar and elsewhere, and of those who remained 
on the field, a large proportion were incapacited from 
work for several days, and many of them are not yet 
convalescent. There was also much sickness among 
the English and Italians. The month was thus in 
some respects the worst that has been experienced since 
mining operations were commenced by the Companies 
now on the field. Heavy rain bas lately fallen, and 
materially reduced the temperature, which ranged very 
high during tbe greater part of last month, and the 
general position of affairs is now improving, so it is 
hoped tbat the coolies who took to flight will soon 
return. Tbe following are tbe returns of three of 
the mines last month : — 
Ooeegum. — 966 tons of ore were crushed, and yielded 
2.049 oz. of gold, or at an average rate of 2 oz. 2 dwt. 
10 grs. of gold per ton of stone. In March 2,075 oz. 
of gold were obtained from 1,005 tors of ore. 
Balaghat. — 305 tons were crushed, of which 105 
tons were quartz, yielding 197 oz. of gold. In March 
335 oz. of gold were obtained from 140 tons of quartz. 
Indian Consolidated. — Eastern Section.— 613 tons 
of quartz were crushed and yielded 150 oz. of gold. 
— M. Mail, May 7th. 
NOTES ON PKODUCE AND FINANCE. 
Mr. Goschen's Budget has not delighted any one in 
particular. Indeed, it has angered the tea trade be- 
cause it was accompanied by comments upon the large 
profits made by the middleman in tea. Middlemen of 
all kinds are sensitive on the subject of profits, and 
they resent any mention of their gains, more parti- 
cularly wben the statement is not strictlv accurate. 
That part of Mr. Goschen's speech, in which he referred 
to the working classes paying from two to three 
shillings per pound for tea wbicb does not erst more 
than a shilling, was, it is urged on behalf of tbe grocer, 
an over-statement of the case of tbe consumer, who 
is now better able to take care of himself than formerly. 
In the eagerness to combat the allegation it is stated 
that the great bulk of the tea consumed in England 
is at present retailed at 2s. per pound, and this costs 
the retailer Is. 6d. to Is. 8d. per peund, the mean 
profit being 5d., or about 20 per cent., wbich. it is 
argued, is not an excessive profit considering the labour 
and expense involved in its distribution. 
This percentage of profits is moderate enough, but it 
is not every retailer who is content with it. Mr. Goschen 
stated in the House of Commons on Tuesday night, 
during a discussion on the Budget, that he had made 
enquiries in the East-end of London as to how tea was 
sold. He had ordered a quantity to be bought at 
various shops in "ha'porths," and as a result it was 
found that the tea realised from 2s. 8d. per pound 
to 5s. In every case a half-ounce was asked for, but 
the reply was, 11 We can't sell half an ounce, but you 
can have a ha'porth." That, he remarked, showed 
that the organisation and distribution was not in a 
satisfactory condition; but it also showed that the 
retailer had it in his power to make the whole of the 
concession to the consumer. 
The question of the profits made upon tea from the 
time it leaves the garden until it reaches the consumer 
is a delicate one. Planters and importers, we know, 
do not reproach themselves with securing too large a 
share. The wholesale dealer protests tbat his modesty 
on the subject of gaiu verges on philanthropy, and 
the retailer— well, it is unkind to question his action 
in the matter. Yet everyone knows tbat there is a 
wide margin between the price which tea fetches in 
tbe Lane and the sum charged for it per lb. — say at 
Slocombe Pogis, and even in the East-end of London, 
and it is not difficult to determine into whose profit 
tbat margin finds its way. 
But sweeping condemnation is rash. Some dealers, 
grocers, and packet tea proprietors are content with 
reasonable profits, while others are greedy. China tea 
can be purchased in bond for, say 4§d., and sold at Is. 
8d. Some Indias and Ceylons, upon which the profit 
is smaller, may be obtained at, say 8d., 9d., or Is., and 
sold at 2n. to 2s. 6d., or, say a blend which costs the 
retailer Is. Od. or Is. 8d„ duty paid, sells at 2s. 6d. 
