Housekeeping in the Tropics

Conducted by “Dorothea"

SEVERAL correspondents have drawn attention to “’flu” epidemics in the Pacific. Medical men strongly advise all sufferers to continue their daily dose of quinine without fail—that is one of the salient points to remember with coughs and colds in the tropics. Never omit your quinine.

Medical men say also that ’flu attacks are often confused with malaria attacks, and vice versa.

Influenza, in its very infectious epidemic form, usually takes from one to four days to develop, and, when once established, may last for ten days. Its onset is sud den. There is a general aching, the tem perature is raised, and there may be alternating feverish and shivering attacks, sore throat, cough, and maybe general symptoms of a cold in the head. The temperature usually remains high for a few days, and then returns to normal, leaving the patient feeling extremely weak. Influenza may attack the respira tory, alimentary, or nervous system, but the above may be taken as the common variety. The chief complications to be guarded against are heart affections, pneumonia, and occasionally ear troubles.

Heart complications should be emphasised.

Patients are often over-anxious to re sume their work too soon after an attack of influenza, with the result that undue strain is put upon an already weakened heart muscle.

In all cases of colds or influenza it is advisable to administer 5 to 10 grains of quinine three times daily for two days, as so many cases of illness in the tropics are due to a weakened resisting power,

caused by the malarial germs. If this is done, and the cold, dysentry, or illness then treated in the ordinary way, a more rapid recovery is assured.

If you should contract the disease, do not fight against it. Go to bed at once, and undergo proper treatment.

Hints for Islands Housekeepers

On Pins And Needles

Put a small quantity of talcum powder in a tin which has a tightly-fitting lid, and in this keep your pins and needles. They will not rust if the tin is shaken occasionally, and will also be smoother to use on materials.

Needles and pins which are already rusty should be pierced into a cake of sand soap several times, then rubbed on emery paper.

Needles not to be used for some time may be kept in a small bottle (an empty junket tablet bottle is good) filled with oil.

If a needle feels sticky when in use, pass it through a thick strand of your hair.—Prize to “Judy S.,” Samarai, Papua.

Recipe For Coconut Pie

With so many fresh coconuts available perhaps the housekeeper would like to try this one on her menu.

Coconut Pie.—Two eggs, two cups of sugar, one cup of grated coconut, one cup milk, one teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. Add coconut to milk and let stand for one hour. Beat the sugar and eggs and salt together, until very light. Add vanilla and milk with coconut. Turn into a pie-dish lined with pastry and bake forty minutes in a moderate oven.—Prize to Mrs. Harvey, Bain-

ings, Rabaul.

Banana Cream

Take gelatine, 3 bananas, 1 pint of canned miik, 2 eggs, vanilla essence. Soak the gela tine in with the milk for two or three hours, then stir over the fire until thoroughly dissolved.

Pour the milk on to the beaten yolks of two eggs; return to the pan and stir until the mix ture thickens, but do not let boil. Let it cool, then add the vanilla essence (to taste) the peeled and thinly-sliced bananas, and the whites of the eggs, beaten to a stiff froth. Stir gently until the mixture shows signs of setting, then pour into a wetted mould, and put in Icyball. I find 4 tablespoonsful of canned milk to pint of water (good measure) is about right for all cooking, etc. —Acknowledgment to Mrs. R. Hill, Fera, Ysabel, Solomon Islands.

Pickle For Pig Or Goat

This useful recipe may be welcome for pickling in the Tropics.

Put two gallons of water into a clean kero sene tin, then add two pounds of salt, one-and-a half cups of sugar, half tablespoon bi-carbonate of soda, half tablespoon saltpetre.

Stir till partly dissolved, then-put in the meat and put on the fire, bring to boil and boil for five minutes. Take away and store in a cool place; see all meat is below the brine; cover with wet bag. When the meat is required for use, boil as usual, according to the size of joint.— Acknowledgment to Mrs. Harvey, Bainings, Rabaul.

It Happened One Day

(Prize to “Bukit Bahrum,” Wau, N.G.)

WE were expecting important guests for dinner, and my husband suggested we include in our menu our famous rum omelette.

I duly gave instructions to my cook boy.

The first part of the dinner proceeded amid much jollity, then Beisa, resplendent in a milk-white lap-lap, with our initials embroidered in red on one corner, arrived with the omelette.

“Ah!” exclaimed our guests, “we heard

of your omelette many miles before we landed here!”

Hubby duly served the omelette, and we proceeded. Then —discreet laying aside of forks. I looked, then tasted. Imagine my horror when I discovered it was satur ated with methylated spirits!

I called Beisa: “What fella name you burn on this kai-kai?”

“E alia same one fella rum, e burn alia same; me no find d’key kai-kai house (store room); me pour one fella lamp— allee same!”

Mercifully, my guests had a sense of humour!

Rev. Father J. M. Oreve, S.M., of the Marist Mission at Suva, arrived in Sydney from Fiji by the Monterey on July 15. He was accompanied by Rev. L. Lejeune, of Cawaci, Ovalau Island, and Rev. D. Des table, of Bemana, Viti Levu.

Mr. Roy Field, a well-known resident of Papua, who has been for many years on the staff of Burns, Philp and Cos., Ltd., at Port Moresby, left on July 2 for the Lake kamu goldfield to take up a position with Guinea Gold, N.L.