Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-22
SULPHUR AND MALARIA.
Dr.. L. P. Yandsll's Able Paper on a
New Remedy for the Prevailing
Disease OF the Southwest.
The Result of His Researches.
cOurierJournal IS.

AANAA kAN T. Va "a $50
dell, which will be read with interest
by all who have been the victims OF
the dread disease so prevalent In
the South and Southwest, The sub
ject is a novel one, and the applica
ton OF so common an element as sui
phur is a new departure in the treat
ment Of malaria, and is, as will be
seen, based chiefly upon the researches
of the writer, The following is the
full text of DR.. Yandell's able paper:
SULPHUR VS.. MALARIA.
This substance, the Lancet peril
nently suggests, may be prophylsctic
TO malaria, since there are strong
reasons for believing that mslaria
poison consists of low organisms, and
sulphur is destructive Of organic life,
I'm Sicily deposits Of sulphur aud
intermittent levers are both common,
out occur for the most part at differ
emit elevations. In some places the
sulphur deposits are found at a low
elevation in mahrial plains, In these
districts the laborers in the sulphur
works enjoy an almost complete i'm
munity from intermittent fever, not
more than eight or nine per cent SUIT
fering; whereas of the inhabitants of
ne~ighborlng villages not less than
ninety per cent T attacked. In
some travels 10 Greece, published by
NJ. Foueue, is an account of the ruins
of a large city (Z4phyria) situated in
a marshy plain, in which it is inpos
sible to pass the night without being
attacked by ague. Three hundred
years ago, it is said, the city contained
10000 inhabitants and thirty eight
churches. Paludal ievers
GRADUALLY DESTROYED THE POPU-
LATIoN.
Twenty years ago only 200 inhabitants
remained, ianguishing and i'll. They
refused to leave the place, and the last
Of them died during tongues visit.
1t is certain that malaria cannot have
prevailed to the same extent during
the period at which the town was 10
its rise and full development, aud it is
also noteworthy that the soil beneath
the town contains abundant deposits
OF sulphur, which were formerly
worked in the vicinity; and the deca.
dence of Zephyria dates from the
discOntinuance of these sulphur work
inps. Moreover, Fonque has noted
another instance Of the same relation.
The mar5hy plain OF Uatania is ira
versed by the Simeto, and is infected
by fever. On the western border OF
this plain are some sulphur works, at
which are a number OF inhabitants
who suffer little, although a village
not far away is deserted. In Ethiopia
certain elephant hunters expose their
naked bodies daily to a fumigatiou Of
sulphur, in the belief that this will
preserve them from malaria; aud GER
tainly they enjoy an almost complete
immunity from the disease, although
some of the districts are so unhealthy
that not long ago a whole caravan
persisted"
Sulphate of iron probably stands at
the head Of deodorants, and its disin-
fGetant. properties are generally
acknowledged. Sulphurous acid gas
is equally destructive to bad smells
and vermin; and Of its disinfecting
powers we are convinced.
In this connection it will beremem-
bered that the bisulphates have been
claimed to possess marked malarial
power, and
SOME ENTHUSIASTIC GERM MANIAos
have contended that the power of
sulphate Of quinia lies in its element
OF sulphur. Aromatic sulphurie acid
has sometimes done good 10 intermit
tents, aud We have gotten remarkable
results in these troubles from sulphate
of iron and alum. Quinia in the
Confederate States Army was always
scarce, aud often absent from our
hospital stores, and hence many sub.
stitutes for it we're tried. The writer
found the following quite reliable,
though certainly not palatable: Dried
sulphate Of iron, one drachm; DOW.
dered alum, four scruples; make into
twenty-one powders; one to be taken
thrice daily, Many obstinate chronic
cases were cured in a week, Others
in two weeks, and in others failure
occurred. In ~dispensary practice.
before and since the war, we have
gotten similar results. In capsules
the prescription might be rendered
less unpleasant. The subject under
consideration is one Of the vital i'm
portsnee to the whole world. Every
where malaria is now being recognized
as the N st abundant, widespread
and polymorphous Of the fever poi
sons. Regions Of America aud else
where in which malaria has not before
existed, as il was claimed, have been
rsvaged By it during the pest few
years. For instance, in localities in
Rhode Island and Connecticut this Is
the case. While it is probable thai
malaria has existed all the time to
some extent, though maybe in masked
and comparatively mild forms, yet the
medical profession Of Newport and OF
New Haven could scarcely have failed
TO recognize intermittent fever as a
common disease among them: had ii
prevailed in the past TO anything like
the extent it has Of late years.
Scuryy, a terrible soourge of DAYS
gone by, since the introduction of the
potato and the more extensive cen
sumption OF fruits aud vegetables. is
almost unknown. Leprosy aud the
plague, both prevalent at one time Ia
the better portions Of Europe, are
DOW ever rarer than scurvy, thanks tc
drainage aud more abundant and bet
ter food and improved ventilation
smallpox, a century ago, every one
was liable to, and now its possibl,
prevention is almost universal. BuI
malaria, although both ~preyentabl,
and durable to a large extent. remain
a potent and almost Omnipresent pes
thence.
Madonna of the CandeIabra.
/, The first original Raphael know
to have been brought to this countr
was landed in New York last weeI
This painting is brought for expo
sition in the Metropolitan Museum q
New York and withont otLo. -.-