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HINTS TO TRAVELLERS. 
Piles. 
Piles are very common in the tropics, and are often due to want of 
exercise, chronic constipation, dysentery, too free use of alcohol, over¬ 
eating, and excessive smoking. No one who suffers from piles should 
become a traveller till skilled advice has been obtained. 
Internal piles, though not usually painful, are by their frequent 
bleeding a cause of amemia and debility; they lie inside the orifice 
of the bowel, but sometimes they come down on straining, and are 
then nipped by the muscle surrounding the opening, and may swell 
up, become very painful, and bleed profusely. 
Treatment .—Keep the bowels freely but gently opened by taking 
cascara regularly; if the piles come down they should be returned, 
and an ointment of galls and opium or an injection of hazeline (one 
tablespoonful mixed with seven of water) used. Tannin, five grains to 
the ounce, or sulphate of iron, three to five grains to the ounce, may be 
used instead of hazeline. Hazeline suppositories are often of great use 
for internal piles, but ordinary suppositories do not keep well in very 
hot countries; if they are taken to the tropics they should therefore be 
specially made and packed. If the piles bleed profusely or cause great 
pain, an operation will be necessary. 
External piles do not bleed, but from time to time they become in¬ 
flamed and swollen, causing great agony. 
Treatment — The bowels should be kept well opened; the sufferer 
should lie with his hips raised and hot fomentations should be frequently 
applied, and the piles should be well greased. Glycerine of belladonna, 
smeared on a pad of lint, is a valuable application. 
Some sedative, such as Dover's powder, may be necessary to procure 
rest and sleep. 
Burns and Scalds . 
Where an extensive burn or scald has occurred, the clothing of the 
injured part should be removed by cutting, so as to cause as little 
irritation as possible. If the burn is only slight, the surface may be 
covered over with lint smeared with zinc or boric ointment, or oil. 
If there is much blisfering, or the surface is charred, the skin should 
