MEDICAL HINTS. 
197 
Treatment. —Wash the skin well with soap and hot water, then freely 
rub in sulphur ointment. A clean linen suit should be worn night and 
day, and the ointment should be applied every night for three or four 
nights, or till the irritation ceases. The clothing should then be w T ell 
boiled or destroyed. 
Kraw Kraw is the name applied to a contagious disease which is 
extremely common in certain parts of the tropics, especially Africa; 
it is accompanied with great irritation and itching of the skin. 
Frequently the disease first appears as a patch, not unlike ringworm, 
on the wrist, arm, or thigh; the patch, which is pimply, becomes in 
parts pustular, i.e., it contains matter. Other patches appear and 
spread, the patient being re-infected either by his clothes or by 
scratching himself. 
Treatment .—The parts must be well washed, and then araroba oint¬ 
ment, white precipitate ointment, or sulphur ointment should be applied. 
Araroba ointment is the best of all applications, but is liable to cause 
some- congestion and irritation, and even inflammation of the skin; 
therefore only a little should be applied at a time, or, better still, 
the ointment should be diluted by mixing it with four times its bulk of 
vaseline. 
The disease is uncommon amongst white men or superior coloured 
men, and when these are attacked care must be taken in the use of strong 
ointments. Amongst the labourers the disease is very common; these 
men like something with a sting in it, and would feel hurt if they w~ere 
put off with milder preparations than croton oil for internal, and araroba 
ointment for external use. 
Where suitable ointments are not available, then carbolic soap, carbolic 
oil, one in twenty, or lotion, one in forty, or tincture of iodine may be 
used. 
The Chigger or Sandflea .—The female penetrates the skin, usually of 
the feet, especially near the toe-nails. As the insect enlarges it causes 
considerable pain and irritation. 
Prevention. —Keep the floors of the houses very clean, and never walk 
about with the feet bare. 
The treatment is to turn out the little bladder-like body with a clean 
needle, and dress the sore with an antiseptic ointment. Natives are 
usually very expert in removing these pests. 
