Treatment.—In the early stages of this condition, opium in some form or other will be found beneficial, and will often cut short an attack; for this purpose, ten grains of Dover’s powder, or fifteen to twenty minims of chlorodyne, may be given every eight hours for twenty-four hours, and then be gradually diminished.
If the breathing is difficult, poultices should be applied to the chest and ipecacuanha, half to two grains, and ammonia, should be given three times a day. Later, stimulating expectorants, such as ammonium carbonate, should be administered.
Inhalation of steam often gives great relief; and the effect is much improved if thirty drops of Friar’s balsam are added to a pint of hot water.
In tropical climates even an ordinary feverish cold very often tends to become malarial in character, therefore the use of quinine, in addition to the other treatment, is usually desirable, and five grains may be given thrice a day.
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 blistering, or the surface is charred, the skin should be cleaned up as well as possible with boric acid lotion, and hot fomentations of the same applied for twenty-four hours. After this, the burn may be dressed twice a day with boric ointment spread on lint. Great cleanliness is an important factor in the successful treatment of burns. In a severe burn, stimulants must be given, and the patient put to bed with hot-water bottles, and active treatment of the burn should be left till the patient has somewhat recovered from the shock.
When there is great pain, chlorodyne or laudanum in full doses will be required.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
This disease, also known as “spotted fever,” is of special importance at the present time to the traveller in Central Africa, where it is very prevalent amongst the natives, especially in Uganda. It may, however, be encountered in all parts of the world, and in the tropics is very frequently a malady of the dusty months.
Causes.—The disease is very often transmitted from some carrier of the causative organism, which occurs in the throat and nose, and is distributed by coughing, spitting, or sneezing. Infected material, such as handkerchiefs, may play a part, and the spread of the disease is greatly favoured by overcrowding, especially of sleeping quarters.