The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-04-26
WHAT is THE CAUSE?
DIR Kings Endesvors to Prove that pIala-
ria Proceeds From Mosquitoes.

ria Proceeds From Mosquitoes.
In paper read before the Philosophical
society of Washington, February 10, 1883, DR..
A. f. A. King endeavored TO sustain the thesis
that malarial disease is produced by the bites
Of insects inoculating the body with malaral
poison, the mosquito being considered in this
country the most active agent.
Whatever value may be ascribed to mos
quito bites as a cause of disease land there
are several very strong and, to our mind, fatal
objections TO the theory, and especially the
fact that malaria prevails at seasons when no
mosquitoes occur), it is interesting to OBJ
serve how the properties and phenomena
usually ascribed to malarial vapors become
susceptible Of explanation on the above insect
theory, and how easily condolences are made
out. In the course of his remarks he present.
ed the following series of 20 statements
culled from leading medical authorities, in re-
lation to malaria, and which, he maintained,
are applicable on the mosquito theory.
I. Malaria affects by preference low and
moist localities. Such localities are the natu-
raj abode of mosquitoes.
2. Malaria is seldom developed at lower
temperature than co. f. neither are mosqui-
toes.
s. lHe aCtlVC aBcnCJ ol CHcCkcu
by a temperature Of 90 +, The same may
be said OF the mosquito.
q. Malaria is most abundant and most viru-
lent as we approach the equator and the sea-
coast. So, under specified conditions, are
mosquitoes.
{. Malaria has an affinity for dense foliage,
which has the power Of accumulating it, when
lying in the course of winds blowing from
malarious localities. Trees accumulate mos
quitoes in the same manner.
g. Forests and even woods have the power
of obstructing malaria and Of preventing its
transmission under these circumstances. So
OF mosquitoes.
T. BY atmospheric currents, malaria may
be transported to considerable distance,
probably as far as FIVE miles. Mosquitoes
also.
8. Malaria may be developed in previous
ly healthy places by turning up the soil, as in
making excavations for the foundations of
houses, .tracks..for railroadsand beds for canals
Such excavations when containing stag
nant water may also serve as mosquito nurse
ries.
O. In certain localities malaria seems to
be attracted and absorbed by bodies of water
lying in the course of such winds as wait it
from miasmatic source. Such bodies ofwater
may also arrest the passage OF the mosquito,
under certain circumstances, as in the alb
sence of a strong wind to wait them over.
Ito. Experience alone enables US to deter
mine the presence or absence Of malaria in
any given locality. Conversely, the absence
of the mosquito, it was claimed by
Or. King, appeared to prevent malarial dis
ease.
IL. In proportion as countries previously
malarious are cleared up and thickly settled,
periodical fevers disappear. The consequent
better drainage, disappearance of under-brush,
and the more tree play of fly cathing birds
may also contribute to lessen mosquitoes.
IL. Malaria usually keeps near the sur
| face OF the earth; it is said to "hug the
ground" The same is true Of mosqui-
toes.
I3. Malaria is most dangerous when the
sun is down, and seems to be almost inert
during the day. The mosquito is active at
night; at rest by day.
ID. The danger of exposure to malaria after
sunset is greatly increased by the person ex-
posed sleeping in the night air. Persons while
awake brush away mosquitoes; those sleep
submit to being bitten.
II. OF all human races the white is most
sensitive to marsh fevers, and the black least
so. The black man is less easily seen by the
mosquito, and the odor and greasiness of his
cutaneous secretions are assumed to be Often
sive to the insects.
10. In malarial districts the use of fire,
both indoors and TO those who sleep out, af-
ior1s a comparative security against maarial
disease. Mosquitoes, attracted by the light,
fly into fires and lamps at the cost of life.
II. The air of cities in some way renders
the malanal poison innocuous, for though a
malarial disease may be raging outside, it does
not penetrate far into the interior. Mosqui.
toes also, during their nocturnal fight, will be
arrested by the houses, fences, lamps, and
fires of the suburbs, SO as to be prevented
from penetrating far into the interior of the
cities.
I8. Malarial diseases are most prevalent
toward the latter part of the summer, and in
the autumn. Mosquitoes are more plentiful
during those seasons.
10. Malaria is arrested not only by trees
but by walls, fences, hills, rows of houses
canvas curtains, gauze wells, mesquite nets
etc. So are mosquitoes.
20. Malaria spares no age, but it effects in
fsnts much less frequently than adults. In
lants, however, from the care with which they
are housed and covered with gauze to keeT
off house flies, are also shielded from mosque
to bite.