Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-11-27
heALrH IN HOT CLIMATES.
Assiimats..sion and Hysisnie Ruiss-rhs

among the question: Detore the sclen-
tifc congress which has just closed its
session at Berlin was that of acclima-
tization and the hygienic rules which
white men need to observe in tropical
countries. In view of the rapid de elop-
ment of white enterprises within the
tropic. it has become a question ofprime
importance to determine how the north
em races can best preserve their health
and energy in southern latitudcs. 1t 10
hoped that much practical information
on this question may be adduced from
the large amount of testimony that was
laid before the Berlin congress.
The cable informs US that DR..
Schweinfurth expressed the opinion at
this meeting that white men can live in
very fair health in all parts of tropical
Africa where cattle-raising is feasible.
This explorers long experience among
the Denkas, perhaps the greatest native
cattle-raisers in Africa, and also among
other large tribes who never saw cattle,
entities his opinion to much weight, es-
pecially as it is re-enforced by the views
of explorers like Joseph Thompson, who
tells of the comparative salubrity Of
the great Nasal country, whose people
subsist almost wholly upon the milk
and flesh Of their herds. II DIR. Schwein-
furth's opinion is correct, fresh interest
is given to the cattle raising enterprises
now in progress in tropical Africa
Within the past seven years the Arabs
have introduced cattle with great
success in the region of which Nyangwe,
on the upper Congo. is the center. The
stock raising experiments OF the Congo
state ON the Kassai river, 700 miles from
the sea, are also thriving.
Another witness at the Berlin meeting
was DIR. Felkin, who lived several years
on the shores of Victoria Nyanza, and
has travelled extensively in Africa. lie
expressed the belief that the climatic
conditions of the great plateau of CEN
tral Africa are no more unfavorable
than those of India, a country once re-
garded as very unhealthful. which has
now become the chosen home of thou
sands of whites.
Sanitary improvements and the OBJ
servance OF those hygienic rules which
experience has sanctioned have made
India and many other southern latituies,
which northern men were formerly sup
posed to visit at the peril of their lives,
fairly salubrious and inviting fields of
labor. The fever-stricken regions of the
lower Congo have not afforded more
narrowing details of suffering and death
than those which have recently come
from district in Venezuela. This dis
trict which white men have ouly Just
entered is naturally no more unhealth.
full than other parts of the country
which have been rendered habitable by
drainage and other improvements. Wal
lace tells Us that two centuries ago Nal.
lacca was SO unhealthful that even ma
tiyes could not live there. By opening
plantations, clearing away the forests
and draining the marshes, the character
of the place has leen completely
changed, and it is now tho home OF
many Europeans. Hong Kong is now
regarded as a very salubrious city,
though when the British first occnpied
it the soldiers persisted of fever by hun
dreds.
Around many west African settle
ments the eucalyptus is now largely
planted in the belief that this tree in
creases the salubrity of the stations.
This expedient was recommended by
DIR. Bushnell, who resided for many
years at Gaboon, one of the worst fever
nests Of west Africa. The veteran mis-
sionary lived to see the reputation of
Gaboon for insalubrity largely redeemed
by the hygienic measures adopted by
the white settlers.
The Dutch and German trading houses
on the Congo supply their new agents
with manual containing the rules of
living that have been found conductive
to health in that dangerous region. A
very few of these Congo traders, ny
very careful observance of the health
rules, which have been proven to be
specially adapted to that climate. have
been able to live there in good health
for ten or more years. Thus in all parts
of the tropics the northern races, 10y the
lessons that experience teaches them,
and by the sanitary improvements they
are making are constantly widening the
area within which white men may live
and prosper.-New York Sun.