Middletown transcript., 1869-09-04
nIalaria an this Peninsula.


Richmond Academy OF Medicine on the
malaria prevalent in the tide-water sec
tions Of Virginia, as connected with emil
grafton 10 that regpr. The report is as
applicable to the entire peninsula between
Che Chesapeake aud Delaware bays, as it
ID to the tidal counties of Virginia. The
author of the report contends that the fe-
vcrs Of Eastern Virginia are not of the
malignant type, but belong to the mildly
remittent or intermittent class, and yield
rapidly to treatment. He argues that all
experience has shown that malaria disap-
pears before an improved and careful sys-
tenn Of culture and an increasing and in
dustrious population. The drainage of
the land, the application of lime and other
fertilizers, the rotation of crops and the
clearing away Of redundant vegetation,
tits asserted, invariably drives the malaria
into the low, swampy districts, which are
incapable of tillage or improvement. The
new settler, it is believed, may protect
himself entirely against climatci diseases
by proper regimen, in like manner with
the Englishmen in India, where the burn
ing climate and the miasma of the jungle
superiuduce fevers Of far more danger
Gus kind.
Such is the substance of the report
above mentioned, and there is doubtless
much truth in the theory that drainage
and the free use of lime in malarious dis
tricts, are conducive to health. But ex-
perience has proven that those hygenic
agencies are not sufficient TO overcome the
effects Of malaria entirely. The theory
advanced in this report, is not new. We
have heard it asserted, years ago, by those
who believed that they had facts at hand
to demonstrate its truth. Instances have
been cited of certain water-courses where
nelarious diseases were once prevalent,
but which had become almost exempt from
them, it was believed, by the action ot
lime and other fertilizers, which dispelled
them from localities long subject to them
The Susquehanna, Elk, Sassafras, Chester
Choptank, Nanticoke, and other streams
emptying into the Chesapeake, were for
merly very subject to niasmatic dseas s,
but for period of twenty-five or thirty
years, previous to 1865, they were com
psratively free from them. In the autumn
Of that year they returned, and in 1861
and 1867, they seemed to be on the in
crease, until every one, nearly was subjec
to them since which time they hav,
seemed to abate, somewhat. The cause
OF these changes are not yet understood b,
the medical fraternity; but they have ac
knowledged and recorded the fact DIR
Eberle, in his Practice vol. ,, says =
- 1t would seem, that either the genera
tion Of miasmata or their power of produc
ing intermitting or remitting fevers, i
greatly controlled by certain occult condi
tions wholly unconnected with any appre
eiaLle circumstances, with regard to at
ln1sphcric temperature, or any of tn
known requisites for the production of thi
p"isan. In certain districts of the TEN
perate attitudes. nalarious fevers wi
sometimes disappear or BECOME extremel
rare for number of successive years, an
then become gradually more and NOR
common, until in the course of few sea
sons, they assume the prevalence of an eE
idemic; and yet, no material differenc
will be obvious between these periods
exemption from, and prevalence of diseas,
i'll relation to what are deemed the Bcce.
sary concomitants for the production
niasmata In relation to the proxina
cause of this form Of fever aud its perio,
lefty, we nay at once confess our enti
ignorance; for all that has hitherto bee
advanced in relation to these mysteriol
subjects. amounts to nothing more,
t.,St, tkaD s,,ne ingenious conjectures al
kyPotl ,t,sseii speculations, with a gre
deal Of eEgda apd absurd reasoning, ar
idle supp,sitsops." The report to tt
Richm mi J 'ademy of Medicine, woul
appear to partake of this character, and
nothing more than a rehash Of these c.
ploded theories and ingenious eeEjeetRre
The subject is one worthy Of the invest
CATION Of scieptife mep, who seem so f
to have itrowp but little light upon it,
TmE FALL TRADE IN NEw YoRk.-Tl
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