174 SURVIVAL ON LAND AND SEA 
DESERT AILMENTS 
There are three chief desert illnesses (other than thirst). 
They are: 
(1) Heatstroke or sunstroke. Symptoms — headache, spots be- 
fore the eyes, dizziness, yomiting, sometimes even unconscious- 
ness ; skin is hot and dry ; face flushed . Treatment — place vic- 
tim on his back in shade and remove all outer clothing. liaise 
his head ; cool his body with water and by fanning ; rub his arms, 
legs, and trunk; if conscious give him two salt tablets with a 
canteen of water. 
(2) Heat exhaustion. Symptoms— nausea, dizziness, weak- 
ness ; face is pale and skin is cold and sweating. Treatment — 
place victim on his back in shade and give three to five canteens 
full of cool water, 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls of salt to the gallon, during 
the next 12 hours. 
(3) Heat cramps. Symptoms — shallow breathing, vomiting, 
dizziness. Treatment-same as for heat exhaustion. 
Under conditions where supplies are available and there is 
no shortage of water, heat exhaustion and cramps can be 
guarded against by alloting at least 2 gallons of drinking water 
per day per man, and by salting the water with 2 to 3 tea- 
spoonsful of salt to the gallon. When possible all food should 
be heavily salted. Avoid alcoholic beverages and meat in large 
quantities. 
Desert sores may develop whenever a break occurs in the 
skin under desert conditions. Prompt disinfection of all 
wounds, no matter how trivial, with 2 percent tincture of 
iodine, proflavine, zephiran or other agent, and covering with 
sterile gauze to prevent contamination by files will be helpful. 
