Health Hints

Useful Tips for the Tropics

"Your medical hints published recently were quite good,” writes Mr. N. G.

Hunt, of Bua, Fiji, “and the following tips may interest your readers: —

Care Of The Feet.

“Relating to the care of the feet, Condy’s crystals are good, but Dysol is much better, and is more soothing. it stops the itching almost instantly. If white ulcers form between the toes, and they are very itchy, use a dusting powder made of equal parts of zinc powder, bora cic powder and starch powder.

“Procure a fair size tin —a cocoa or rolled oats tin with an airtight lid for preference. Into this, empty all three powders, close the lid and shake well with a circular movement. When mixed empty the contents out on to a sheet of clean paper and roll the powdered mixture with a clean glass bottle to break up any lumps. When this is done, again empty mixture into tin, and give a final shaking.

This procedure is followed only if you are in the back country away from a chemist, who ordinarily could mix it for you.

“The mixture is then ready for use.

Keep the lid of the jar or tin tightly closed at all times to avoid dampness. The mixture should be dusted between the toes before retiring, and also rubbed well in on the back and front of feet. It is quite good for most skin eruptions, such as heat rash, eczema, etc.

To Kill Cockroaches.

“Boracic acid powder sprinkled in cor ners, crevices and cracks will satisfactorily rid the place of cockroaches. They eat the powder and it forms into a hard cement like substance in their insides, and they die.”

A Cool Drink.

“A good refreshing drink on a hot day is half a lemon squeezed into a green coconut. Procure a nice ‘fizzy’ one—your boy will select a good one for you. This drink is much better than lemonade and is more refreshing.”