The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-02

| We often see in health reports OF cite
and large towns that the largest numbe
OF cases of intermittent and remitten
fever appear in the suburbs Of such towns
or cities. This fact may be accounted
for in this way In the centre or busincs
! portions of towns and cities tho streot,
and sidewalks are generally paved will
stone or bricks; this stone or brick beine
| exposed TO the rays Of the sun during tho
day, absorbs considerable amount O
heat, which, by radiation after night fall
prevents, TO degree, the lowering of tho
temperature.
On the other hand, the streets and side
walks ia the suburbs are not, as general
rule, paved. and the soil, being q poor
conductor Of heat, absorbs but little
during the day, and therefore will have
but little to give to the atmosphere after
night. In such localities We infer thu;
the temperature will be lower at mid.
night, with an atmosphere more highly
charged with humidity than in the centre
or paved portions of such towns. And
again, we have seen it stated that those
sleeping in the FIRST story of building
may have remittent fever, those in tho
second intermittent, while those in tho
third or fourth escape altogether. "Ma.
LARA is too heavy to ascend unaided,
put remains near the surface, unless car.
Iried up by the wind or moisture. Now,
1t appears TO me that this same moisture.
which is supposed to be the vehicle by
which this malaria" is conveyed up into
the atmosphere, is sufficient by reducing
the temperature within itself, 10 DO what
Is attributed to malarial poison. We all
agrec that he nearer the earth's surface,
the greater :hc humidity, and as we as.
cend, the purcr and dryer the atmosphere
becomes.
In recent city health report of St.
Louis, the city chemist, among various
other facts relating to public health, said,
he had examined the condition of brick
walls in buildings standing in dry and
damp situations" First, taking bricks
in dry weather from an old and stronr
building, placed on high ground, well
severed and exposed to sunshino2a face
brick next above the foundation con.
tained one ounce of water; four feet
higher, half an ounce; and lust under
the level of the roof, one.twclfth of an
ounce. And in examining a building
differently situated, notoriously damn
aud unwholcsome, OIL high but made
ground, face brick in the fourth row
from the foundation contained eighteen
ounces of water. These facts should be
well considered by sanitarians when in.
vestigating the causes Of this class of
diseases. A temperature that would be
perfectly harmless to vegetation when the
air and plant are both dry, will produce
frost after o rain, and when the air is
moist. Of this fact every farmer can
testify.
The difference in respect to night tenn
perature between places near and those
remote from streams of water or swnmps.
is further shown by what takes place on
the occurrence of the late frosts of spring
and the curly frosts Of fall. Near the
streams they are always more severe than
at distance, 30 that planta in the former
situGtions are often killed, while in the
latter they escape unhurt. The human
system is similarly affected.
1t does appear conclusive to me that
this humid atmosphere, surrounding the
sleeping occupants of lower stories and
all damp situations, is sufficient within
itself to produce the diseases in question,
without being mere vehicle for convey
ing "malaria'
We can also understand how indiscre-
iion in diet, aud the depressing passions,
fear, grief, &C., aid in producing this dis.
ease. Congestion of the portal system
Is liable to occur when the alimentary
canal. is distended with food. The de.
pressing and perturbing passions, as fear
grief and anxiety, cause the blood to
recede from the surface, as is shown by
produce"
Over-indulgence in rich food contain
ing much fatty matter likewise predis.
poses to theIe fevers. Indulgence in rich
| animal Diet i'll warm weather, when there
is so little need for tho consumption oil
carbon for keeping up the temperature OF
the body, will have the effect of throwing
more labor on the liver. 1t will be stim
! ulated, and rs consequence rendered
| more susceptible to the influence of the
diurnal changes of temperature. A veg.
etable diet, on the other hand, contains
comparatively little carbon, while it i.
rich i'll protein, the proximate element OF
all the tissues. In the warm season il
will obviously be more conducive tc
health than the other.
II this theory be correct, what should
| be our preventive means or measures te
lessen our chances of, or to escape these
fevers? To avoid the exposure to the
heat of the sun by day, and the chillina
and humid atmosphere at night. and
other extremes of temperature. Thi,
idea seems to have been taught as IN,
back as the days of Pliny, and we coulo
show from history where it had beer
acted on in many instances with grea
benefit.
1t is stated that Bonaparte, when pass
ing through those pestiferous swamps o
Italy, to protect his troops from fever
had fires built before each tent, which
was TO dry the atmosphere, and instruct
ed every man to dress in flannel under
clothing at sundown, and to take "a,
same OFT at sunrise.
Ii stranger goes into q neighborhoot
where fevers are prevalent, and ask,
what means he must take to escape it, II,
will almost invariably be told by ever,
one to avoid the hot sun by day. and th,
cool, damp air at night; not to expos
himself alter sunset nor before the sur
has risen high enough to dispel the chill
illness of the morning air; or, if he ha
to expose himself at the dangerous hours
to see TO it that he is properly nrotecte,
by additional clothing, and have fire
made up in his bed-chambcr on retiring
The writer confidently believes that an,
one might live in any locality in any O
the Southern States with impunity, b.
using the above precautions, with add
tion of dressing in flannel underclothin
at sundown and taking them off at sun
rise.
Is not the partial exemption of th
negro from these diseases another proc
of the non-existence of this malaria
poison? That the negro is less liable /
ATTACKS OF these fevers than the whit