"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. مجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٦‎٤] (٥٤٢/٣٦٨)

364
HYGIENE AND DISEASE
Drink. If we arrange in order the sources of water -supply,
from the safest to the most dangerous, the list is as follows : Spring
water, deep-well water, upland surface water, stored rain-water
ordinary surface-water from cultivated lands, river-water to which
sewage gains access, shallow-well water. Certainly there is such a
thing as pure drinking-water. But natives in the tropics have so
many ways of polluting the surface-soil and the water-supply, that
the only sure protection against water-borne cholera or typhoid is
to have all drinking-water boiled, or chemically treated, or both.
Filters, mostly, are troublesome things, and easily get clogged. If
the water be turbid, it must be filtered or strained before, not after,
boiling. Drinking-water ought to be not merely heated, but really
boiled for five minutes ; and it is essential to see for oneself that
this is done, as natives cannot be trusted to carry out instructions
which they consider unnecessary. In places where the water is
very unpalatable, it is best taken, when in camp, in the form of
hot tea ; and, even when travelling light, a ' thermos-flask' does
not take up much room and would add to one's comfort, especially
on night-marches. The flat taste of cold boiled water may be im
proved by shaking up the water, in a corked bottle, with fresh air;
or by the use of a ' sparklet' bottle. And, of course, clean water, if
it be stored in unclean flasks, ceases to be clean water.
No alcoholic drinks of any kind should be taken between meals, or
while a man is at work during the heat of the day. Probably a very
small amount of stimulant, taken with the evening meal, helps
digestion, or at any rate does not harm a man.
Other Precautions. All clothing must be light and loose, and
the utmost care should be taken of the skin of the feet. For pro
tection against chill, a ' cholera-belt' will be found useful at night.
For protection against sunstroke, the cap or sun-helmet should
have a red or orange lining, and a three-inch strip or pad of stuff
of the same colour should be sewn inside the shirt, to cover the
spine. For protection against disorders of the stomach and bowels,
such as may lower a man's resistance to this or that infection, the
mouth and the teeth must be kept very clean : and the best mouth
wash is weak carbolic lotion, about 1 in 200. For smoking, a pipe
is better than cigarettes.
Against malaria, a man can protect himself, not only with a
mosquito-net, but with preventive doses of quinine—5 grains daily,
or 10 to 15 grains twice a week, while he is in a very ' malarial'
district. ' If for any reason says Manson, ' quinine is not tolerated,
that individual is unsuitable for residence in tropical countries.'
Tasteless quinine can be taken by most people.