Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-11
The s.Malaria, in Lower Virginia.

method OF c0uGteraclng the Influences OF the
Malarial Poison, by J. 3 McCav, NJ D.,
Professor of Practice Of Medicine, Medical
College Of Virginia, Chairman OF Special Com
mitcc, adopted by the Academy, and requested
to be published As a contribution to further the
great efforts now making for the encourage
| inert Of immigration into Eastern Virginia, and
the advancement Of thcmateral interests OF the
Commonwealth. ALBERT SNEAD. President.
.Joha n. TpSh5r, Secretary.
The fertile lands of Eastern Virginia, within
easy reach Of all The Atlantic cities, wate-ed by
large navigabe rivers, with climate most fav-
orabe for the highest agricultural prosperity,
and now, owing to the exigenclcs aud sad re-
| suits OF tie late war, selling at prices which
| ought to encourage emigration from all parts
| OF the world; this lovely country still remains
unnoticed, or is quickly passed by, because OF
| the unprecedented danger from the malarial in
Anences which are known there to exist, fright
ening off the enterprisng settler, who finds
| every thing else to tempt him t0 make his
| home in this attractive region.
The objec. of this report is to combat this
| apprehension, by showing: LIST. That the few
| ers of Eastern Virginia are not OF the malig-
nant type. ID. That, by proper cultlvatlon,,
with an increasing population, this district will
gradually become healthy at all periods OF the
year 81. That, during this transition state,
| the new settler may, by n proper course OF
! treatment, protect himself to great degree
| from climatic influences, and enjoy an average
| of health greater than he might expect in eth
| or Of the extremes Of our widespread Con tcde-
racy.
Your committee speak confidently, from an
experience Of many years. on the hrst point
| 4 Il
rarely assume the malignant type OF more tropl-
cal climes. They are mild remittent or inter
mitttent 10 their character, easily durable by
simple treatment; and seldom leaving behind
dangerous complications The medical protes-
sion of the whole region will support us in this
statement. So mild are these levers that the
farmers and managers on the plantations ofe n
| dispense with the aid of the physician, and de-
| pend on their own sim pie practice Tor cure.
I'd. All experience shows that the malarlal
poison always disappears before an improved
| and careful system OF culture and an increasing
| and Industrious population. Divide these
plantations into small farms, lime the soil we'll
| and drain it; introduce q regular rotation OF
| crop, and soon the much dreaded malaria
would be driven away into the low and swamp y
districts, and country which now, IN It's ne
elected and hall. cultivated state, Is terror to
| the new. conner, would become almost entirely
| healthy.
That this is cmphatcally true is shown by
| the statistics OF Virginia from 1916 to lS6l.-,
| During this period of time the agricultural
nrosperity of this country reached its maximum.
Under the lead of Edmund Ruitin the farmer,
| had lined or marled their lands Ditching and
sub. draining had taken off the superfiuouS wa,
| ter, and nm improved method ofcultivation had
Transformed the whole face OF the country, so
| that the English traveller would almost imac-
| Inc himself back again on his own beautiful
| island, where science, industry AMI capital had
exhausted themselves Tor centuries III dcVcl-
opng the soil to It's highest degree ol produc-
| tlyencSS.
-Four years OF wasting war have passed over
our State. Tramplrd under loot 10y hall a
million Of soldiers: The landowner fighting dc>-
rerately IN a sinking CAUSE; the lahorcr fleeing
| from his old home IN search ct taat happy
land wher, there would be all play and 10 work;
| these influences have thrown the country hac.
| temporarily into its 0 riglnal condition, when
malaria rcigncl supreme, aud the white man;
unacc!lmated, feared 10 venture ms lie amid
| tho green swamns and rich low grounds OF Gun
great river.
The experienced farmer wcll-knows that
| these difficulties are surely ana safely overcome
Already, under May adverse circumstances
| the fall diseases arc becoming less frequent and
more easily managed. We may with truth say
| that even now the emigrant will find himself
| in the enioymc0t Of better health than II he
| followed The great tide which pours its Immense
| volume towards the Western States \ lew
wears of patient toll will again restore our
land to more than its pristine state OF salubrity
| and we will see it AGAIN smiling IN the sunshine
| oil prosperity.
%, The history of medical science and oh
seryation on this point have shown beyond
doubt that it is in our power 10 protect tho
human constitution. from the effects oil malaria
even in It's malignant form.
Twenty five years ago the medical staff on
duty with the British African squadron prac
| tised the reventive method upon those wht
were exposed to the deadly ievcrs o! that eli
mate with great success.
! Since that period this same treatment ba:
been successfully adopted by the French anc
English forces serving in Ch'0a; the great An
glo. Indian army in the junglee Of the East; the
| allied troops in the Crimea, and, coming dowr
| to our own day, the same prophy tactic practice
| has protected the Federal army in the valley
of the Chickaheminy and the James, and tho
| Confederate troops on duty in the rice lands o
Georgia and the Carolinas.
| In civil practice these views have been re
| peatedly proved to be true. So that now the
Panama company successfully carry on then
| line OF railway across that famous nest OF mala
ria. Chagres and Panama fever have sunk
into comparative insignifcance, and the en-
pioyec and the traveller alike ignore the danger
of infection, feeling safe under the protecting
power OF Qanlne
The experience OF all observers unites in Civ
ing 10 the salts Of quinia the first place as a
prophylactic against malaria. The sulphatC
| of ouinia in small doses, dissolved in wine, wa
used on the African coast, and this remedy still
continues to be regarded as the most reliable
medical agent to prevent the Invasion OF Tho
poison.
We might occupy your time by giving many
prescriptions which have been found useful II
| this respect, all having the quinine as a com
mon base, but modified by individual expert
ence or prejudice The practice also admits o
considerable modification, depending upon con
stitutional peculiarities and epidemic vara
tons.
We will only offer for your consideration q
few OF the best Combinations which our own
| experience for many years has proved to be
trustworthy.
|. ANTIMALARIAL AND Tonic PUL.-R.