The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-07-12
Communications.
yos tbs cnAaLoTTS JOURNAL.
OBsERy ATOMS on THE CAUSE, &c.
OF ENDEMIC FEyERS.
No. ~:

Having IN the former numbers oil this
series discussed the questions Of the nature,
origin and circumstances most favorable Ia
the ex.rication Of malaria, we purpose III
the next place 10 consider those laws by
which il Is governed 10 lis propagation,
accumulation, dispersion, &c.
Whatever be the nature Of tho prinelp pie
nquestion, or the manner Of its produc.
ton, Il Is in union with atmospheric air.
ooly, that We recognize it; and. conse.
qaently. the laws which regulate its tians.
mission from place 10 place. must be those
which produce tia, enec, upon the vehi.
Gle 10 which II is suspended. Unfor,u.
halsly, those are little understood; aimos.
rhsric currents exist North winds blow
and South winds prevail, wlihou, our being
abe TO reduce their phenomena to ans
h,sd aud certain laws.
The nature OF the union which exists
iclween the poison OF malafts, and the air
ne breathe, and tho eiioc, upon ihn, union
Of the ever varying conditions Of the o,
mo'pherc, with regard to heat, moisture,
electrical state. &c, are questions, which
though Of tho deepest interest are up.
Ultimately 'uvoI,ed il the dcepcs, obscu.
MY snd II - only from careful obser.
nlion OF tho various conditions under
saeh Tho POISONOUS principle acts with tho
greatest Intensity, that any rules can be
tsducej, calculated 10 guide US IN our al.
smp's 10 avoid lis baleful influence.
From the surface Of Tho earth duriny its
exposure To the suns rays, there 10 q COZ.
slant evaporation OF water, and an admiy.
tars OF tho aqueous vapor thus formed,
With the air OF thu atmosphere, and there
every reason 10 suppose ,ha, the poison
IN question rises IN union with this vspor.
and again falls with II as tho abstraction Of
The suns rays causes i, TO be condensed,
snd-ia obedience 10 the Law OF specific
giatilf --sgaln 10 assume position near
the suifIcc. Hence The pfoyerblal un
hsahines Of tho uight ar and morning
ic., which doubtless owe their drrieflous
qs,lllc. much moro 10 tho admyiuie Of
poisonous cmaai,ions, than TO any degree
Of cold and moisture which they produce
" stth which they are charged.
A, no produciIun OF malaria proceeds
iton day 10 day from ocali,y Gas a marsh
or rq'l poni) known TO Le maafious Il
lolloss HAT uale. the poison be removed
| sy an almrsphsfc current OF decomposod
| by some chemical agency, It must accu
mulalc unlil The air af such locally be.
come insullsfably pes'ilerous. This effect
I. particularly favofcd.by whatever has a
tendency TO cnniine thc malaria to It's orr.
g'nal location, and hence the air Of those
ponds OF marshes which arc surrounded hy
Ills, woods OF high walls is always oh.
~'ted TO be more highly charged, and 10
produce more malignant diseases. than
hat Of those whore there exists no such
obstacle TO its free dispersion.
Asa general rule the poison OF malaria
IS mos, intense in the immediate vicinity
VI hose places, from which II is known to
R estricaied.
The only exception 10 this rule Is found
% those cases where residents ~ tho i'm
|nsda'e vicinity are protected by woods.
ais, adverse winds, &c.
The direction towards which the winds
Ieval' from mllafious locality, is alsavs
good index 10 til places where malarious
'ea'e' val be found to prevail TO the
'eatest extent. Wa can hence under f,
and how /, is that one bank of river
nay be almost exempt from sickness while
re oposI'e shall suffer TO surprising cx.
nj 81. ...1 hut n
fkly SIDE of the river is that one towards
men the prevailing winds have blown FOR !
one lime previous. {
from The tendency Of malaria TO accu $
a'a'e near the surface of tho esr,h,-- i
'nef lfom ITS greater specific gravity, or I
'' o. The waiery vapor with which II is
"'ed-li can readily be understood how u
may baIenccd Off by intervening woods, '
aus barbados, &c. That such is the
e may be established by a multitude Of n
te", OF which the following, from a wri. /,
already quoted, DR.. Duuglison, are oil
a, OUT limits will permit US to notice. "
wear 81 Stephano on Mount ArgeuicIa p
"eh' situated which was famed for q
alahr'ly Of its air; bu, since the for. ii
which surrounded il have been cleared ia
mas become unhealthy. %,
az 'sllelri near tho Ponline marshes, \
cutting Of M intermediate wood, occa.
.''u Immediately and for three success. r
eyears, levers and other diseases, which
"'n'''ed great ravages. The same eff.
was observed from q similar cause
campo Saline, and analogous exam. h
night DO adduced from Voney, Ian. in
- Jonas and others" A knowledge of pr
a. ''c. may explain why the woods
WV homo weie, by the ancients, con. in
,,a a.sa 70 Neptune land this conjecture is G,
spgihened Nv the fact thai, a(ia, ,ho III