Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08
MaIa rial Fevers in the Connecticut VAL

DR.. Barrows of Hartford, president of the
Connecticut medical society, read paper
before it at Thursdays meeting, upon tue
increasing prevalence Of mslarial or ty-
phoidal fevers in the Connecticut valley, a
subject which has IA practical interest for
the people of this vicinity. From histor-
ical records, DIR. Barrows concludes that
malarial fevers were generally prevalent at
the time of The first settlement of the val
ley, as is the general rule with new coun-
tries. Subsequently, as the country be-
came peopled, they largely disappeared,
remaining sporadic in localities subject to
specially malarial influences. During the
irst half of the present century, they had
pretty nearly disappeared, as an indigen-
Gus disease, from the region. But within
The last twenty years, and especially with
in the present decade, they have become
again so prevalent the whole length of the
valley as TO excite the most serious atten-
ton among the faculty, and at times TO
cause popular panic In afflicted localities.
DIR. Barrows expresses the belief that this
return and increasing prevalence of mala-
rial disease is owing 10 what the faculty
call a change in the diathesis of the popu-
lation OF the valley, which in plain Eng
llsh means a change in the human consti-
tuition, which renders it more susceptible
to certain sorts of disease. That such
change, inclining the Inhabitants of the
Connecticut Valley to debilitaling fevers,
has been gradually taking place during the
early part of this century, is a well estab-
lished fact, and it appears TO DIR. Barrows
fully TO account for The increasing spread
of typhoidal, neuralgia, dysenterlal, and
other malarial diseases. One striking in
dication of this increased malarial tenden-
cy is seen in The recognized fact that quin-
ine may now be given in doses which
would have been called heroic generation
ago. From this theory of the cause he
thinks ii safe to make the uncomfortable
prediction that towns and cities which have
heretofore suffered from malarial fevers
must expect 10 be yet more severely visit
ed in the future. But while the change of
constitutional tendency on The part of the
people cannot be arrested, much may be
done by more careful attention TO santa
ry measures to prevent it from being ox-
cited TO active manifestation. Among the
precautions against malaria which he rec
ommends are that all decayipg refuse
should be cleared from cities and from near
houses. that clay boltomed lands should be
drained, that the waters of streams and
ponds should be so enclosed as not TO leave
broad eXpanses of mud bottom at low wa
ter, also that such malaria absorbing trees
as The pine. be planted on the windward
side of ponds and rivers. He especially
recommends the common sun flower as
one of the hest absorbents of malaria Ia the
world, and urges that II be extensively
planted in malarial districts. The upturn-
ing OF soil in hot weather, by excavations
in streets or lots, has been found 10 be an
almost certain producer of malaria, and
DIR. Barrows would have city governments
prevent the disturbance Of the soil by pub
lie works during hot dry weather.