The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-22

N~S' Sii0 oSohy 10 HdUQenlnS, ana
the victim cannot endure clothing of
any sort. If alkali dust is present the
irritation is rendered more aeute. For
person in this condition the use of
soap and water is like adding fuel to
the flames. Even an extreme case will
be cured within 4S hours after return
ing to moist climate, distant from
the influence of the salt air OF the sea
For one who cannot get away, the
rational course is to become a "greas-
er," to abandon water, and, in place of
it, to adopt the oil rub. Vaseline will
do, or any good toilet cream. Best Of
all is pure olive oil, to which a very
small quantity Of sodium benzoate and
powdered borax may be added. The
boraX should not be the ordinary com
mercial quality, but the grade used
for filling physicians prescriptions.
The skin anOinted with oil and rubbed
dry with towel will be found to be
perfectly cleansed, and it will remain
soft and plant, and will not crack in
the desert atmosphere.
The alkali dust is also highly irri-
tant to the mucous membranes of the
nose and throat, especially if one has
brought some Eastern catarrh along.
In most cases catarrh will disappear
In the Southwest after a time, but it is
desirable to avoid the continued irri-
tation from the dust and the only way
to accomplish that is to flush out the
nose and gargle the throat morning
and night with some soothing, slightly
stimulant alkaline douche, such as
listerine. or Sellers tablets, or the
equivalent.
| One other point needs consideration
Some years ago, when in charge Of a
large mining and smelling enterprise
In the central part Of Mexico, 1 found
that my predecessor had just ordered
an ice plant. When it arrived T had
the equipment placed in the ware
East Indian system of refrigeration
without ice for preserving the perish
able food supply of the camp, and ac-
cordingly felt no need Of the new ap-
paratus. Presently my staff came to
me with a petition for the erection of
the ice plant. They wanted iced
drinks. sherbets, colder bottled bev-
erages than I had provided. I ex-
planned that my objection was based
on the possible injury to health, but
at last 1 agreed to erect the plant on
the understanding that If within one
month there was any notable increase
in liver trouble or fevers among the
force the plant was TO be closed
Within three weeks my staff was con-
tent 10 see the ice machine dismantled
This episode carries its own lesson.
Learn to use drinks only little cooler
than the body; learn to enjoy them;
1t will not be long before one will have
SO trained himself that he will shrink
instinctively from the cold drink and
the frozen delicacy. 1t will also be
valuable to learn the trick of the
desert denizen who will fill up with
liquid in the morning and will then
travel a half day in the sun without
needing another draught.
| The Southwest has it's climatic dis
in ho TO CT fv,,n
phere breeds catarrh and pneumonia,
but there is a tonic effect produced by
the pure dry air Of the arid countries
which one feels despite the heat The
ultraviolet ray beats down upon the
desert, destructive of germs. rejuve-
mating to, the human system, inducing
to that longevity for which the South
west has ever been celebrated. 1t is
no myth. Man gains a new lease upon
life by coming to the desert. 1t invites
to activity in the open; it's air stimu-
lates; its, sunshine cures his ills and
wards off the microbes that would
inoculate him with disease. The sun
was worshipped on the desert as no
where else. The more one has of 1t
the more does he feel it's need. Even
the plants refuse to thrive in this sun
washed land unless exposed to the di-
rect rays. 1t may be interesting to re-
fleet that the conditions in our South
west are practically identical with
those in the Bible lands, with which
every child is made familiar. 1t was
in just such country that Abraham
lived, that Moses led the children OF
Israel to the Caananitish inheritance
Here are the adobes, cool structures
for respite from the burning sun, just
i e.,,ol, Il In, 1,