Please see the Transcriber’s Notes at the end of this text.
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CLIMATE AND HEALTH
IN
HOT COUNTRIES
AND
THE OUTLINES OF
TROPICAL CLIMATOLOGY
A Popular Treatise on Personal Hygiene in the Hotter Parts
of the World, and on the Climates that will be
met with within them
BY
LIEUT.-COL. G. M. GILES, M.B., F.R.C.S.
Indian Medical Service (Retd.)
Author of
“A Handbook of the Gnats or Mosquitoes,” “Kala Azar,” and
“Beri-Beri,” &c., &c.
NEW YORK
WILLIAM WOOD AND COMPANY
MDCCCCV
[I-iii]
INTRODUCTION.
A hundred years ago a prolonged residence in theTropics was regarded with well-founded horror. The bestthe white settler in the lands of the sun dared hope forwas “a short life and a merry one,” but too often themerriment was sadly lacking.
When Clive’s father made interest to get his son awritership under “Old John Company,” and packed off thetroublesome lad to India, he probably regarded it as a lastresource, and felt much as if he had signed the youth’sdoom; but an age that hanged for sheep-stealing, or less,was like to be stern in its dealings with its children.
We know now that what the father took for vice wasbut evidence of the superabundant vitality of a genius, andbeing one, Clive naturally possessed the originality to modifyhis habits to his new surroundings, and so survived tobecome an Empire-builder and hero. Nor was the caseexceptional, for looking back on the history of our greatIndian dependency, one cannot fail to be struck with thehigh average ability of the few who survived to attainleading positions.
Furlough to Europe was almost impossible, and thehills were unknown, but in spite of this, many of theseseasoned veterans who had learned their lesson lived, in theland of their adoption, to a green old age. But the rankand file, who could not or would not learn, died off likerotten sheep; and to this day it is the young and inexperienced,who have as yet not learned to adapt and protectthemselves, who fall the readiest victims. At home it is,I believe, generally recognised that at the age of 26 a man[I-iv]is rather past his best from the athletic point of view, andit is hardly to be supposed that he is not equally at hisfittest before that age, simply because he has shifted hisdomicile a couple of thousand miles to the south; but sofatal is the want of caution and intolerance of precautioninherent in early manhood, that most authorities recommendthat, if possible, emigration to a hot climate shouldbe postponed till the age of 25. This obstinate determinationto carry to tropical parts habits of life suitable onlyto the more temperate parts of Europe was carried in oldtimes to an almost incredible extent.
Now and again, in the guest