Diseases and their Prevention and Treatment.
In the tropics, as elsewhere, the diseases to which the traveller is liable are due to widely differing causes, but in hot countries climatic conditions and parasites play a predominant part. Insects are very frequently to blame for the transference of the latter from the sick to the sound, both insects which are not themselves parasitic on man, e.g., the mosquito and the tsetse fly, and those which make man their host, e.g., lice and fleas.
It is useful for the traveller to bear diseases in mind from the standpoint of their etiology, as in this way he can more readily grasp the measures necessary for their prevention.
Accordingly, the following classification is given, merely as a guide, together with a few examples. The diseases themselves, for the sake of convenience of reference, are grouped alphabetically and are not classified in any way.
Table of Diseases Classed according to Etiology.
A.—Parasitic.
(i.) Due to “contact” either direct or through the agency of clothes, bedding, etc. Also due to direct inoculation through the skin or mucous membrane.
Examples: Many skin diseases, venereal diseases, small-pox, tetanus, and blood-poisoning (septicæmia).
(ii.) Due to “mouth to mouth” infection, through the agency of so-called “droplet” infection, expectoration, coughing, sneezing, etc.