Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-10-29
From the Medical and Surgical Reporter.
Malaria and its Manifestations in Sussex
Cnnntu Del


BYD W. MAuLL, NJ. b., OF GEoBegToWNi DRL.
In order to subytrt successfully one by pOhessir |
medicn II 10 necessary to substtute another aud
plausible in its stead aid upon the oiher
hand, TO establish theory, it is advisable 10 weak,
en- and invalidato existing ones The diep aeen ent
Of an old and popular theory or OF new aud rising
ts necessary 81 preparing essay Ella Tor
ate 10 its composition and in details This labor we
shall not assume Gs Is not orr purpose to eontro-
vert any peculiar doctrine, but rather TO fer
vewsin favor Of one that appears to be most consis
tent with reason and established faeis; but which at
various periods has been threatened win being ass
signed place with those that have risen and fallen,
and It's poson usurped by those both beautiful and
in cenons but devoid Of the numerous facts which
gave the in question support, and reco amended
II to the human mind as an established truth in |
science.
In tho employment Of the term "Mularia, il may |
be understood that we have committed ourself in |
favor Of that generally received dogma that certain
disorders Of the human system arise from this
that II is aerform poison, immateriAl in it's na>
ture, nappreoiable to the senses, in its sequ>
snces generated by the decay und decomposition Of
substances, chiefly vegetable, requiring certain
mount Of SOLAR heat and moisture to furnish this pc
6Niam and capable, during certain seasons, of do
yeloping peculiar class of diseases designed Ma
laIal
In adopting this theory, we feel il incumbent 10
adduce and tffer any facts Of which We
may be in possess on that might tend to the esab>
lshment Of this view Of the question, as the yadiS
ty Of this doctrine has been questioned and the ex
istenoe Of such q mOrbifc agent denied altogether
BY some, and tho Term 'Malarian even ignored by |
the votaries Of Hypothetical spccuatOGs. Whilst |
upon our term Of study at medical school, one Of
these hypoheses bore such aspect of plHusibility
and appeared 50 novel and inviting, that we were |
halfinoned 10 embrace it, without rejecting wheth.
or or not suheency Of facs could DO adducei to
establish the position taken But subsequently, uron
taking our own impress and views from field OF OBJ.
servatiOn 10 nalatOus district of country, our con-
sicions asio the existence Of O subtle agency as ma.
lhns, sprang up, and have Strengthened with every
succeeding OF observation
II 10 not cur Intention 10 deal with the ianciful
uheories concerning the origin Of malarious diseases
Hs ouv Purptss only to aubstantiAte the doctrine
toat we have embraced, without aborng to cues ion
me lenhbili'y Of otheIsi as atmospheric vc'ss.
tuoes "cryptosamous origin" electric conditions
U me attn: sphere ard "epidemic constitutions y
nllont designing to enter iuto any lebgthened or
useless Osquisuon concerning the many ations
mat have been INDUCED in, and having promised
We VIII Proceed to the confederation OF our
suoect, with the purpose VI restricting our remarks
10 the eircumscribed field preEenled by the title we
propose and although tue scope thereby afforded US
quite restricted, We shall cOnfne our observations
~ lne limits pTeserbed making what We have ub.
siyeo 10 tbs county in relation to tho question: the
OASIS upon which 10 erect the superstruaure
oehtage properly in the worS before US. it would
70 our Turp9setO glance uuTsorily the
opegtaphy OF the county, and the natural citcuu
s.ances And agencies which might have "a bearing
upon heaithI endsHVOr 10 mike cur position as q
w, W. aosIne VI malaria tenabio, and then 10 observe
ne ueFeOpmen's OF this 1IGteTtes morJi in lie 10
callty under consideration. But the nsnIr, AM
design OF tho present. article will not admit ef au
sufcss asIa .oPSsEasa4R ono; Iba! pos
what are ulaally esteemed the eetusnis o.
mnlaral diEorders; and that II ne these character
istiss which ara generally found in localities where
this class OF disorders prevail, viz rivers creek
marshes, mill ponds swamps, low grounds yari.
able atmosphere, legs; and t0!erably high "dew.
point"
1t wcali appe9r that the morbife clements Of th z
atmosphere OF this Oeaaty have a disposition to
develop dY5entery during the summer months and
bilious remittenJ fSrefs IN the autumn. Thrse dis
eases, generally speaking, do net, with Us. often
co-eGist TO any great extent Tie malAri presul1ed
to originate both diseases becomes modified in i's
nature and effects MS the SUMMER progresses Early
in tho seasVn it nanests itself In disorders oil the
Prime yi@ later in the season, BY occnsi0birg dis,
orders denoDineied Bilious 1t has beenoa eived
by US that when dysentery prevails Epidemic. lily in
the summer, We meet With comparatively Hide re.
nittsLt fever subsequently, there apreArs to be
something antagoaistic in the two diseases
autumn has 1een designated ''the harvest time"
Of diSeasei IN THIS county il is essentially 60 The
commencementot our bilious tsvets, however faries
with tho character of tho season. Usually. Il docs
not prevail to any great extent until he clue If
august Sporadic cases. though, present themselves
during nearly The entire summer
In order 20 develop an atmospheric cOniitt, n
hVerable 70 tho propagation Vt these dseases IL is
ssseouai mat We should have frequent and cnpious
rams during the early season, followed by ho, suns
Ibe rams Dfing forth luxuriaUt growth Of vcgets,
non the decomposition Of which, We assume pro
duces the gcraibaut faculties nj nur .,,,,,n ~ II,
orders. So
conarmaOry of this position wa will stats ,bat
he summer OF 1896 witnessed some dysentery hut
nst SUFFICIENT to enhe it to the name Of epiienie.
ana out NoalcHRl of bilious The sesso, W >
quite dry the summer comparatively cool ARMS
remarkable for its having been the coolest that had
oees hho"n lot years. In consequence OF these
VnuItons. mere existed but sparse vegetation
anu What there was could not possibly dgeonpoge
this process NV ''se"''a' u"
again, the summer and fall Of the year 1854 was
was extremely Try, and, u consequence little
SICKNESS prevailed among US Scalceiv iva inches
o. rain iel from tho lat # June up to he Inst Of
y ,S We had few gentle showers Under
hese circumstance, Il was impossible for Gur 81, m.
mer and autumnal levers to prevail In anu yyes,
sAeeLt There was not sufficient lain to.adyanc,
M tuueiuotSe process ia vegetable matters -
moisture n Snr,s eh! neat Tor tue purpose but MOI
.u 70 iurther Il, The ponds were low and IL
wy immediate neghLOrhoOd Of them gCme sickness
SissoOos oasloneu thereby demonstrating that hest
aeeudent on the products Of vegetable
see9mpostinni these ponds Leng pecuIiarly utolif
att e Pnouuc''oh OF ihese mOrbGc germs In VIVA
,nf,ennsnnll may We Tealo nably account for til
arns5 y; vi these affections in all other localities
season !? VI 'uese Pohns' during ina
ro ASSa'G5onay, it has been observed TINT thes
isot 10 the yt nHy summer and fail, are more su b
III @ .,ishati0h Of this class Of Diseases tina
other localities This fact il rotorin,s Tsa, 'I w.
pinces are palpaby fruitful sources Of n,lara ~
ionenlng Is case in point of illustration sn5 !
confirmation OF our giew. Frnn, To- ft ana i
OF July Of the present year SEN tIS ~
ness anu several deaths from tlysenins,, 49, ~ y !.
certain section few miles distant ;n,o ~ gu
Two or ihiee members Of the Same fnIniI, t.iI a.
Ataeked' rms Section was To the "a az ~ ~
pond OF considerable area, the water If ,,b;i III III
nrled up, the supply being insufficient lnr ,ni,ii
purposes Inc wind had prevailed for two or III,
weeks from the south anu southeast- The w;
Of this pond relative to tho Inhabitants ~ IT, =.
teoted Enthusiastically Rifordug means fa !, 4
convection Of the poisonous principles rensrat "
This was reasonable deduction; and inJesd :,
other assignnble reason could be luuld W.,
be philosophical 10 charge cryptOyania el,ct,ic
chsnges, or atmospheric vicssitudes with orj',;n
ting these disorders? The solution we olipe m,
be found in the malaria developed By tho veg ct Il
decomposition occurring in said pond, and watt
TO the said district This solution too, will ans W.
Heconceive, for all other of malaTious natul
We have invariably remarked that persons resi-
ing near our low grounds, swamps and ponds, al
the margins OF our streams, more obnoxious
antunnal levers than those living on more elevate
grounds This town, situated upon the "Diyidil
Ridge" or Watershed" Of tho county, abo
nflyf feet above the ocean, Is oftoDtime free fro
bilious complaints when these disorders are attaci
Ing persons living on tho low grounds a few mil,
distant. The "head" Of Indian River is -eRarde
as VIGOROUSLY prolific in bilious diseases The rive
hasits origin IN an extensive mill pound the bottoI
OF some portions Of which is sometimes exposed
Must all this difference be chargeakle to
YicitRituues? Would not the persons on the sIehtl,
elevasd strips Of land be equally affected? FIN
changes OF atmosphere we're capable Of oriyinatipe
these affections, such difference would not be
apparent ia situation; currents of wind do moi vary
te that degree. No; 1t is an atmosphere laden with
moreine partieies-,he germs Of disease and spring