The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
TWENTIETH CENTURY EGYPT.
XIV An African Health Resort
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN
XIV. An African Health Resort.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Cairo Egypt. May 2s.-It IS estimated
that about 5000 Of the visitors 20 Egypt
each winter are persons seeking health
or pleasure beneath sunny skies. The
climate is credited with vast possibilities
in the matter OF the restoration OF health.
Possibly not enough credit Is given 10
the European or American physician.
whom the invalid brings with him. IN
many instances, or 20 the Occidental
practitioner established in Cairo. Until
recently. az any rate. foreign doctors had
TO depend entirely upon foreign practice.
The native Egyptian would have none Of
his medicine. preferiug 10 pin his faith
10 remedies IN use when the Pyramids
were building, rather than trust 20 dis
coyeries OF the infdel and outlander.
Until recently village BARRIERS and old
women constituted the medical advisers
OF the natives. Mohammedans cured their
ailments BY texts from the Koran, and
Copts doctored themselves by applying
excerpts from the Psalms OF Gospels.
An operation warranted 10 cure all but
fatal diseases consisted IN drinking Nile
water from a specially constructed brass
bowl for three consecutive Fridays II
the patient did not live 70 the third Fri
day II was. rnanifestly. because the dis
ease was fatal A bone from the BODY
OF a Jew or an Egyptian mummy was
considered a charm against fevers- A
sterile woman who wished 20 bear chill
dren stepped over the corpse OF an exc
cute6 criminal walked upon a human
skull. or bathed IN water previously used
10 wash a corpse. A headache was cured
by driving a nail into one Of the gates
OF Cairo. An antidote for poison was 70
drink water in which texts from the
Koran had been soaked 4 dislocated
Joint WAS bound 10 a half-staTved COW
and the animal fed. so that the swelling
would reduce the swelling Of the patients
limb.
It is quite true that the pure air OF
the desert IS a tonic OF rare value 10 the
debnuated. and OF especial benefit 10
sufferers from various illnesses. but the
first discovery and disillusionment OF the
unwarv visitor IS that Il IS easier 70
catch cold in Cairo than it IS in Chicago
and harder 10 get rid OF It Cairones
know how 10 guard against colds; the
late arrival does not. The Egyptian who
kneels By the roadside, with his face
toward Mecca. and says his prayers as
the sun Is setting, wraps his mantle about
his head and throat The American has
been free from cold IN Southern Cali
fornia, al the Gulf Coast winter resorts.
or in Florida Believing that IN Egypt,
as in seni-tropical America colds are
rare and hard 70 catch, he finds himself
at sunset five miles from his hotel with
cut his coat. Chilled 20 the bone, he ar
rives IN due time at an American bar,
his fetch against the cold germ
But when he awakens next morning he
is in the grip OF an Egyptian cold. He
tries everything. from asperin to AS
souan, In an effort 10 get rid Of It. Il
lasts a week. despite his Efforts. His
physician tells him gravely that a cold
caught in Cairo sometimes results seri-
ously. II Is always serious IN itself Not
withstanding the gravity Of an Egyptian
cold, which. in strict Justice. must be
credited with conhaing itself chiefly 20
the head. the country Is sought by con-
sumptives from Europe, as Arizona IS
sought by Americans similarly affected
Although the French and English oc-
cupation Of Egypt might be supposed 70
have taught Europeans that Egypt is
not altogether tropical. the fact Is that
It mas not The tourist buys his sun
helmet before he gets to Cairo. Perhaps
he gets IL from his furnisher at home
Having firmly fixed In his mind the
idea he is doing a hot country he dons
his helmet before he ventures On the
street The mere fact that It is rather
nipping IN the early morning, Just CON-
Portable in the sun at midday, and de-
cidedly cold al sunset. does not eradicate
the impression that without a sun helmet
he might suffer death or great bodily
harm IN Africa He is forced TO get his
overcoat out OF his trunk. but the stately
white helmet. pierced by yentilating holes.
towers above the necessary outer gar
ment Sometimes the exercise incidental
TO visiting the pyramids on his bicycle
does not sufficiently heat his blood 10
cause him 70 leave OF his overcoat. but
the sun curtain reaching from the back
Of his helmet 70 his shoulders does not
strike him as being an absurdity.
Rheumatism. bronchitis, asthma, the az
ter effects or grip. and OF piurisy and
pneumonia, the effects OF overwOrk or
mental strain, neuralgia, and many other
diseases and ailments. are said 10 give
way before Egyptian air and attention TO
medical advice. Horseback riding. camel
and donkey riding. and other forms Of
exercise incident 70 seeing mountains ana
ruins Of antiquity, give the muscles ot