Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-07-01


whereas the same proportion, in
marshy parish, lives only to the agc
of p. In the hills one in 20 of al
that are born live to so: in the marshy
districts only one in ffty-two attains
that age. In most Of the counties o
Maryland certain number of the
inhabitants annually fall victims tc
malaria while in certain districts of
Southern Maryland and the Eastern
Shore the distempcr is so prevalent at
times as to interfere, in a measure,
with agricultural pursuits.
In the ummer months malaria is
peculiarly destructive. 1t usually
commences about. the beginning of
June, and does not terminate until
the severe autumnal rains in Septem-
Der or October. 1t unfortunately
encroaches every year Oil other parts
of the State where it was formerly un-
known. and there is a PECULIARLY in
the line in which it advances and in
the mode ofits progress which hither-
to the inhabitants have not been able
to explain. 1t is now generally con-
ceded that this great source of human
misery may be abated, if not compile
tely extirpated. by adopting the follow
ing measures: l. Draining the land;
,. Cuitivating it; 3. Employing cal
careons manures: 1. Embanking land
apt to be overllowed: .. Procuring
wholesome drinking water.
DRAINAGE.
From the statistical account of
Scotland it is shown that wherever
the land has been thoroughly drained
intermittent and remittent fevers have
disappeared. There are no less than
thirty parishes in Scotland to which
this observation is applicable, but for
our purpose it is only necessary to
give a single instance, from parish
in the county of Fife. Before the land
in that parish was drained the families
who lived near pool of stagnant
water were subject both in the spring
and IN the autumn to intermitting
teyers of from twenty-five to thirty
five days continuance. Whole families
We're to be seen at the same time, in
such distress that none of them could
assist the other. But since the stag
nant waters have been completely drain
ed these diseases, to which inhabitants
were formerly liable, and the sad train
Of complaints connected with them,
have been unknown. What boon to
the people it would be if the same
course were pursued and the same
desirable end attained with reference
to the bog lands of Maryland. What
greater blessing could be vouchsafed
to the inhabitants of the marshy dis
tricts of the State than the, sight of
of luxuriant crorsadorningthe places
where the eve has long been accustom-
ca to Stast..a,it' -..te1, t~Ad saeIe,l
noxious Sapors, pregnant With death
and disease, are now so usual?
CULTIVATION.
Next to drainage, cultivation is the
graf means by which malaria can be
most effectively eradicated and the
salubrity of the air improved. When
land is pulverised and we'll cultivated
it absorbs the rain more quickly and
in graeter abundance than its uncul-
tivated state, hence less moisture will
rise in evaporation. Increased vege-
tation also diminishes evaporation,
for water is absorbed in considerable
quantities by the plants themselves;
and IN proportion to their luIuriance
they not only diminish the reflection
OF the suns rays, but keep the air
cooler and more temperate during the
heats Of summer and autumn, As "a
sanitary measure the proper cultiva-
ton Of the ground is of the first i'm
portance. 1t contributes not only to
lessen malaria, which is the cause of
agues and other febrile diseases, but
it also produces state of the atmos-
phere which is favorable to the promo
ton of health.
CALCAREoUS MANURES.
In marshy soils the use of calcare-
ous fertilizers is Of the highest impor-
tance. The effect of lime in improv-
ing the health is hardly to be credited.
1t absorbS noXious matters and ami
hilates any deleterlous properties
which the soil many possess; and it
may be relied upon as an established
fact that soil full of calcareous mat
ter never produces an unwholesome
atmosphere.
ENBANkMENTS.
Much fiat and rich land is apt to be
overtlowed during the rainy seasons of
the year which at other periods are
perfectly dry. and such land when
loaded with moisture must necessarily
be favorable to the production ofI
miasma. The only mode of prevent
ing such calamity is by means Of
MISUNDERSTANDING and cultivation
" here these are insufficient, windmill |
pumps may be necessary. They are
extensively and successfully used for
this purpose in Holland and parts of
Eermany.
WHOLESOME WATER
One Of the chief means Of promot-
ing and preserving health in marshy
districts is to procure healthy water
to drink. This is an object, however,
to which little atteAtion is generally
paid in marshy districts from the sup
posed impracticability of obtaining
good water. Any such difficulty is
now completely obviated by the i'm
proved modes of digging wells, by
which water may in almost any local
ty be procured in the greatest perfec.
ion. of the important effects result
ng from the use Of good water, there
S noted ms anoe in Essex, England.
A well was dug about 500 feet deep,
by means Of which excellent water was
procured, and by using it the health
Of the inhabitants became so much
that they found little occa-
sion for the skill of a physician. A