Malaria is briefly an earth-and-water-born poison produced in soils not fully occupied in healthy Avork, and may be taken into the body through the skin, the lungs, and the stomach. In the first case it generally enters by inoculation from the bite of some insect Avhich has been previously feeding on malarial poison. Mosquitoes are great offenders in this matter, especially near stagnant Avater, Avhere they breed. It is Avell, therefore, to keep covers on all Avater jars near the house, and to adopt the plan of closing the house at daAvn Avhich is recommended elseAvhere. Dew falling on the body through malarial air Avill introduce it by saturation. In the second case the poison is in the air. This malarial air clings to the surface of the earth, and cannot be produced at an eleva- tion of 3000 feet. It is denser before sunrise and after sunset, Avhen evaporation is at its height. Sunshine disperses it, and places known to be malarious may be safe by day and deadly by night. Owing to these facts, it is safer during malarial seasons to sleep on the roof or in an upper room. Those Avho have toAAmrk in malarial districts Avill find a charcoal respirator a great safeguard, also double- Availed tents and camp fires. A belt of trees round a house jirotects it. Tavo to three grains of quinine should be taken morning and evening, and the greatest attention paid to the general health. No one should ever go out of tent or house in the morning till some food has been taken. In the third case of malaria ^loison- stomach), milk is a great offender. This, especi ally Avhen bought in the bazaar, should be boiled before using. If the taste of the “boil” is objectionable, a regular steriliser should be made or bought, it is, briefly, a bain- marie pan, Avith thick glass hermetically stojipered bottles. 174 The Complete Indian in which the milk is placed and brought to boiling-point. This milk will keep — in its stoppered bottle — for a week or more, and has no taste. Tubercular germs are also largely disseminated by milk, and it is responsible for many cases of decline and phthisis. Where the great heat of the sun has to be braved, a large ])ith hat should be worn, a real mushroom, that will protect the nape of the neck. A cork protector, made by quilting shredded cork down the middle of a sleeveless jacket, should be worn over the spine. An umbrella covered with white and dipped occasionally in water will make a hot, dangerous walk less dangerous. In regard to exercise, especially in hot weather, men are apt to err in taking too much, women too little. A languid stroll from your drawing-room to your carriage and back again is not sufhcient to keep your organism going. It will soon begin to stroll also from sheer lack of stimulus. At the same time, all excessive fatigue leaves you a prey to the bacilli which compass you round about, seeking whom they may devour. With these few remarks we proceed to detail the following simple, useful, and nearly always obtainable remedies, for the common complaints and accidents likely to occur in India, when medical assistance is not at hand. A mistress will find the following limited stock of medi- cines meet most cases coming under her care : — 1. Powdered ipecacuanha. Tliis keeps much better than the wine, and is therefore safer for emergencies. In croup, a child’s life may he lost from using a medicine that has become inert.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Malaria is briefly an earth-and-water-born poison produced in soils not fully occupied in healthy work, and may be taken into the body through the skin, the lungs, and the stomach. In the first case it generally enters by inoculation from the bite of some insect which has been previously feeding on malarial poison. Mosquitoes are great offenders in this matter, especially near stagnant water, where they breed. It is well, therefore, to keep covers on all water jars near the house, and to adopt the plan of closing the house at dawn which is recommended elsewhere. Dew falling on the body through malarial air will introduce it by saturation. In the second case the poison is in the air. This malarial air clings to the surface of the earth, and cannot be produced at an elevation of 3000 feet. It is denser before sunrise and after sunset, when evaporation is at its height. Sunshine disperses it, and places known to be malarious may be safe by day and deadly by night. Owing to these facts, it is safer during malarial seasons to sleep on the roof or in an upper room. Those who have to work in malarial districts will find a charcoal respirator a great safeguard, also double-walled tents and camp fires. A belt of trees round a house protects it. Two to three grains of quinine should be taken morning and evening, and the greatest attention paid to the general health. No one should ever go out of tent or house in the morning till some food has been taken. In the third case of malaria (poison-stomach), milk is a great offender. This, especially when bought in the bazaar, should be boiled before using. If the taste of the "boil" is objectionable, a regular steriliser should be made or bought. It is, briefly, a bain-marie pan, with thick glass hermetically stoppered bottles. 174 The Complete Indian in which the milk is placed and brought to boiling-point. This milk will keep—in its stoppered bottle—for a week or more, and has no taste. Tubercular germs are also largely disseminated by milk, and it is responsible for many cases of decline and phthisis. Where the great heat of the sun has to be braved, a large pith hat should be worn, a real mushroom, that will protect the nape of the neck. A cork protector, made by quilting shredded cork down the middle of a sleeveless jacket, should be worn over the spine. An umbrella covered with white and dipped occasionally in water will make a hot, dangerous walk less dangerous. In regard to exercise, especially in hot weather, men are apt to err in taking too much, women too little. A languid stroll from your drawing-room to your carriage and back again is not sufficient to keep your organism going. It will soon begin to stroll also from sheer lack of stimulus. At the same time, all excessive fatigue leaves you a prey to the bacilli which compass you round about, seeking whom they may devour. With these few remarks we proceed to detail the following simple, useful, and nearly always obtainable remedies, for the common complaints and accidents likely to occur in India, when medical assistance is not at hand. A mistress will find the following limited stock of medicines meet most cases coming under her care : — 1. Powdered ipecacuanha. This keeps much better than the wine, and is therefore safer for emergencies. In croup, a child’s life may he lost from using a medicine that has become inert.

The complete Indian housekeeper & cook