A dose of shock treatment I was happy to receive

It's the traveler's greatest fear. You can live with losing your credit card, you can certainly survive if they lose your luggage and there's even a way out if you lose your passport.

But getting sick? That's another matter.

Visions abound of being holed up in some ghastly shack, surrounded by natives with equipment equally as primitive. Medicines haven't been updated for donkey's years and don't for a moment let them give you a blood transfusion. Heaven only knows what nasties are lurking in those dubious instruments.