Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18


ture will pc urged to devise some such practical
scheme for the accomplishment of a benefcent
project SO universally recognized and SO impera-
lively demanded
Whilst recognizing and advocating the SAM
fary necessity of removing this acknowledged
source OF disease in obedience to the popular
clamCr. based upon
THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED THEORY OF MARSH
MIAsM,
we by no means intend to com nit ourselves to
the vague and undemonstrable opinion that cur
autumnal fevcrs are due to a specific agent pe,.
Sc, generated in these marshy deposits. Doubt
less it may be said that we are cropping in the
twilight of ignorance, but not hope of impo
tent effort, in pursuit of the truth respecting
the proxiinate element or specific nature of the
so-caied marsh malaria. and though aided in
our researches for more than century by the most
delicate, ingenious and complex mechanisns.
as well as perfect and thorough Ledge of all
the mysteries Of chemical analysis, ia the hands
OF patient, pains taking. and accomplished in
VeStigatOrs, We have so far failed to detect by
the most careful analyses OF atmosphere water,
or organic matters of these pandal districts,
any material or impOnderablc agent to which
may be ascribei this pathogenic force called
malaria.
Proceeding upon the idea that certain types Of
fever prevailing among those whose habitatiOns
were in the vicinity of marshy districts de-
tiguity to each other, and associating them as
cause and effect, the early investigators into
this subject very naturally directed their efforts
to discover in what this supposed ,.,ate71es morbi
consisted. whether of vegetable. telluric, or
paludal origin: resulting in the popular belief,
maintained by majority of our profession at
the present day, that from the decomposition of
organic matters with moisture. under the infiu-
ence of solar heat, there emenated specific i'm
ponderable gaseous element capable of pro-
ducing these fevers.
WHAT IS MALARIA?
The problem which presents itself at the
present day is identically that which for so many
hundreds of years has eluded the researches of
scientific observers and remains, so far as it re-
lates to this particular agent. a hidden mystery.
resolves itself into two questions: LIST. What is
malaria? Is it distinct material entity of liv-
ing OrganSms:the gaseous results Of the decOm-
position OF organic matter; or is it a hyperther-
mai force modified by humidity? I'd. In what
manner does this Invisible agent impress itself
upon the human organism. and accomplish those
widespread pathological changes which destroy
the integrity OF its organs and result in its decay
and death! We all recognize the fact that the
grand mission of the sanitarian is to prevent
disease, and to destroy its source, it's germ and
its spread-to deal with the prophylaXis and not
the therapeusis. In order to successfully &C
complish this mission, he must arm himself with
edge of what il is he is called upon to combat In
what does malaria consist? Whence cometh it?
" hitner goeth it: In contemplating the mag
nitude of this problem, the vast fields of labor-
Gus and scientific research which its solu-
ton must necessarily require we are painfully
impressed with the inSigniicance and made
quacy of any effort which so humble an indyid-
ual as oursef might make in the direction of
its calculation. 1t would be an act of presump-
ton on our part to aspire to any higher achieve
ment than the presentation of such crude hypo-
thetIcal suggestions as may have occurred to
our minds whilst investigating the recorded re-
suits OF other Observers themOdest hope that
they may possibly prove auxiliary to the labors
OF future inquirers. Whilst we ere not prepared
to concur in the proposition of Reber to
ABANDON ENTIRELY THE TERN MALARIA,
to avoid erroneous ideas which may result
from it's use, and substituting that Of hyper
therma, or excessive heat. we have for a long
period entertained the opinion that the term
was vague and calculated to misIead u.s. and
have sought to trace to some other origin than
the so-called marsh miasnl. those types Of fevers
supposed to be produced by this imaginary
agent. Quoting from the profound philosophical
and learned work of Professor Joseph Jones,
touching cognate subjects. He says:
whilst it is true that the amount Of force annually
e. by the earth fro from the sun is fixed quantity
tuition tuition u the tlnoshere the nice adjustment of il
loccea, ease Win which one mcde OF
rice cr its relations to moisture its relations to the
dstrbut;on d the solid fluid masses If the eart h
the climate subject to Variations which cannot be pre-
ances produced in man. The truth OF this rropo-
certain eaFes to the sester and phen e m 81
directly produced by the disturbance Of the structure
true that the course and pleLocn. OF disease are mod
l se v s9 sas sHts 1 % s
OF the orin progress AID treatment Of
disease Cannot be overestimated'
Recognizing the force and truth of these OBJ
servations. it has often occurred to us that the
possible solution of this question NAV vet he
found within the domain Of thOrmO- hyGroInetfic
phenomena, and the influence Of these upon the
human organism. The multitude of observers
and writer's since the days of Lancisci, in 1716.
having signaliy failed to satisfy the medical
mind by any conclusive and demonstrate proof
vi the existence OF atmospheric abnOrmalities in
these feVer-producing regions, it is but natural
that we should abandon the tIlus-far unsatis-
factory and barren field of atmospheric ANALYSIS,
and direct our observations II possible in some
more promising channel. Dr. Oldham. of the
British army, in a very able and valuable work
upon this subject entitled. What is Malaria"
closes his book with the following conclusions:
lst That exposure at night in maarous locality
I'd That ali the effects produced by so-calied na.a-
rious infueice may be casefi by the raid extra ion
Of animal heat without the Intervention Of any specific
OF the diseases which constantly associated with ma
arous fevers well of the recurrent attacks or So
called relapses Of the feyers themselves"
4th. THAT the effects OF continuous exposure to
high temperature is at diminish the genera.
ting powers Of the SYSTEM ana to increase the slscet
Dllty to nialaria fever, we'll in
tensiy OF the disease Under all these circumstances it
apiears impossible to arrive at any other conclusion
than that mc.arid is chill"
1t is somewhat remarkable that Dr. Oldham
who seems to have been close and intelligent
observer should have pronounced in so dog
matte manner his conclusion that
MALARIA IS CHILL
especially as he manifestly had considered the
condition precedent by his remarks upon the
predisposing effect of heat upon the nervous
system in producing chill. Having prosecuted
his Investigations into this subject for the most
part in torrid climate, where he could not fail
to observe the constant and unvariable cond-
ton of high solar heat preceding the develop
ment of chill, it would seem but natural that
he might have associated the two together as
indirectly cause and effect. If the simple sud
den abstraction of animal heat constituting
chill is synonym for malaria, how does Dr.
Oldham explain the occurrence in many per-
sons. of intermittent and remittent fevers in the
sO-called malarial regions who have no Chill
Every practitioner of medicine residing in those
Ns.n,x 1-ksf b. - L