The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-06
over the fence and half way through an ash
barrel. II Oral-Keep your word, and keep
yonr temper.
MALARIA ca USED BY INTERNIYTCRE
OF FRESH AND SILT W.ITER,

Localities subject to the intermixture of
| salt and fresh water are particularly prone to
malaria. The Maremmas of Italy afford
| examples of this on q large scale. The Ma
remma OF Lucca consists of three basins
formerly dotted over with ponds and pools
1t had been for centuries frequently over.
moved oy the sea tides which lntsrmin yled
with it's fresh ponds. Malarial fevers rava-
ged it and rendered it almost uninhabita-
pie. 10 the way 'arer who was 30 impru
dent as to spend night of August or
September within it's desolate bounds. the
penalty was almost certain death re-
medy for this deplorable condition of things
was long aoughG. A proposition had been
made In IVA by the engineer Rondelli to
attempt the exclusion of the sea. Renewed
In 1850 by Manfredi, and six years later by
Iendrini mathematician of Bologna, the
idea was finally carried into execution in
l74O. The initial attempt was made upon
the principal and most unhealthful basin
sluice was constructed at the entrance of
Burlamacca through which the water of the
sea penetrated into the basin to it's central
pond. The flood gate was so arranged as
to act like valve, shutting by the
pressure of the rising tide and opening
when it fell. The success of this enterprise
was so complete that in the following year
the mlasmatlc diseases which had never
failed to show themselves annually did not
reappear, and the whole district was rem
dered salubrious. 1t was at this period
that the village of Viarreglo, previously
abandoned and composed oniy of a few
nshers' huts grouped at: the foot of an old
tower where galley slaves were confined,
became fashionable resort during the
summer for the aristocracy of Lucca. This
fact OF a regions being rendered healthy by
the exclusion of sea water is curious. but
made more decisive still by it's coun-
ter proof. In 176s-'69 fevers suddenly
sprang up again az bad as ever in the same
territory. Upon the cause being investi-
gated, it was found that the sluice had be-
come deranged and the mixture of waters
had been re- established. Upon the flood
gate being repaired, the malaria was again
extinguished. The same occurrence hap
pene d in l7s4-e5. The sluice having been
neglected, there took place in 1884, out Of
population of 900, the enormous num-
Der of 200 cases of malarial fever and 90
deaths. In the following year there &C
Cured lo3 deaths. The trouble was re-
NEEDED in the same manner as before. The
other portions of the Maremma were rem
dereG healthy later. by sluices excessively
established at different points. Such q
remarkable result necessarily attracted
public attention. Leopold H., Grand Duke
of Toscany, was particularly impressed by
1T, and he received the great idea of i'm
proving the whole Tuscan Maremma in the
same manner. 1t was an immence under
taking which he contemplated-an actual
transformation of large part of his do
minions-and it rebounds to his glory that
he succeeded, in the face of almost in
surmountable obstacles, by the meaps de-
scribed, and a properly directed system of
canalization and field culture, in regenera-
ting very considerable portion of his ter
ritory.
1t is not difficult to account for the gene
ton of malaria under such circumstances
as those just mentioned. The minute form
of vegetable life with which both fresh and
salt water TEEN require their own special
element for continued existence. The in
termixture of salt with fresh water intro
duces new element with which the life |
maintained in each separately is incompa-
tible. The surface of the soil consequently |
after every invasion and retirement of the |
tide exposes to the action of the heat
mass of defunct vegetable material spread |
out over an extensive area, and in most
favorable condition for speedy decom posi-
ton.