Licence: In copyright
Credit: The prevention of malaria. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
667/768
![6o] THE MARCH 59? should be provided with mosquito - proof huts, and in their absence mosquito-netting should be supplied to the men. Night duties should be reduced to a minimum, and sentries relieved every hour, or even oftener. The very fullest use should be made of mechanical appliances, barbed wire entangle- ments, searchlights, etc., with a view to lessening the strain on the sentries. Hot coffee, cocoa, or tea should be freely avail- able for all men exposed to the night air. On no account should fatigues, which can be performed by natives, and for which natives are available, be carried out by Europeans. The question of the prophylactic use of quinine will be discussed later. With regard to moving bodies of troops, which do not occupy any one camp for more than forty-eight to seventy- two hours, it is obvious that measures directed against the breeding-grounds of the larvae can be of no avail. Before any such measures can have effect the force will already be many marches away. The defence therefore limits itself to the pro- tection of the men from the adult mosquito, and to preventing the access of the latter to the exposed surfaces of the body, or, as a last resort, to rendering individuals immune to the Plas- modium by the use of quinine. The former can be achieved by the use of mosquito-veils and gauntlet gloves by men on night duty, and, doubtfully, by the use of mosquito - netting when asleep. Unless a man is provided with some sort of framework whereon to support the curtain, it is doubtful in how far this precaution is of use. Obviously a complete set of poles for mosquito-curtains cannot be carried by each man. The issue of a couple of yards of netting to each member of the force is at the same time a precaution that may with advantage be adopted. The use of essential oils for the purpose of anointing the exposed surfaces of the body has much to recommend it. It causes less dis- comfort than that entailed by the obstruction to respiration when veils are worn. There is at the same time less hindrance](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21351600_0669.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)