A Swim In The Nile Summary and Analysis

Twenty-eight year old Vernon Berry had received a small inheritance and decided to spend six months traveling the world before settling down to permanent employment. He became ill while in Hong Kong, with symptoms of headache, sore throat, and shivers and was treated with antibiotics by a local doctor. His illnesses continued, on and off, throughout his entire trip through Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and, finally, Europe. He was treated by doctors in several places, such treatments including more antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications, aspirin for fever, and vitamins. He returned home to New Jersey with sporadic symptoms of itching, diarrhea, joint pain, stomach cramps and swelling around his eyes and settled into a job as a draftsman.

Puffiness around the eyes and occasional itches and swollen areas came and went. When these...