Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-30
Mosquitoes and Malaria.

/
A. F. A. King, NJ. D., explains, to his own
satisfaction we presume, the connection
between mosquitoes and malaria.
Viewed in the light Of our modern
germ theory of disease, he says the pune
lures of proboscidisn insects deserve con-
sidsrAtion as probable means by which
bacteria and other germs may be inocu-
lated into human bodies, so as to infect
the blood and give rise to specific fevers.
Furthermore, when 1t is remembered
that disease reproducing bacteria germs are
go minute that million may rest on the
head Of pin, and that the smallest
puncture Of the finest needle point,
when charged with an atom of
injecting mattel, may be sufficient to infect
the body with the septic matter At scarcely
seems possible to ignore any longer the
punctures of mosquitoes and other pro-
bosoidian insects as possible sources OF
both infection and oontagion. With our
present knowledge of the germ theory,
one would hardly dare, even once, to
plunge an inoculating needle into the
blood of yellow fever or typhus fever
patient, whether living and comatose or
recently dead, and then withdraw it and
plunge it into his own blood or the blood
Of other persons. Yet this is exactly
what the mosquito is doing in nearly
every yellow fever epidemic, and what,
perhaps, the flea is doing in the filthy
jsils and ships infested with typhus.
The Doctor, however, does not bear
down very heavily upon the mosquito as
propsgator of yellow fever, but dismisses
this part Of the subject with the sugges-
ton that the spread OF the disease ceases
with frost and the mosquito takes his
leave at the same time. His, the Doctors,
not the mosquitoes, design is to present
what facts he can in support Of the mos
quitsl origin Of malarial diseases--in
fact, Of ague-and he proceeds to draw
up the following formidable indictment :;
Malaria affects by preference low and
moist localities; swamps, fens, marshes,
jungles, &c. So does the mosquito.
Malaria is hardly ever developed at a
lower temperature than so degrees. Ditto
mosquito. =.-.--5
The evolution or active agency of ma
lsris ia checked by temperature of 3.
degrees. Ditto mosquito.
Malaria is most abundant and mos
virulent as We approach the equator ant
the sea-coast. Under the impetus of lane
breezss mosquitoes are waited, from theii
nurseries in the marshes, toward tn
ocean and, being stopped By the water
accumulate on the sea-coasi5. CAS- 1
matter of fact few of those Republican
who took part in certain meeting at Re
hoboth just about year ago will disput
the correctness OF the latter part of til
foregoing proposition. They sometime
do accumulate at the sea coast, indeed
accumulate nearly thick enough to b
shoveled up and hauled away by the cal
load il there were any market for them.
Malaria has an affinity for dens
foliage, which has the power OF accumu
lating it when lying in the course
winds blowing from mslarious localities
of obstructing It's transmission ind,
these circumstances. Ditto mosquitoes.
By atmospheric currents malaria
capable of being transported to col
siderable distances, probably as far
five miles. So is the mosquito.
Malaria may be developed in previous
healthy places by turning W the soil,
in making excavations for the found
tiocs of houses, tracks for railroads al
beds for canals. The Doctor experienc
some difficulty in Juggling in the moaqui
here, but he does it.
Intervening bodies Of water, il su
oiently wide, will prevent the passage
malaria. The mosquito is not likely
fly across body water three-fourths
mile wide nor to be blown across boz
OF water more than five miles wide.
In proportion as malarious sections ,
cleared up and thickly settled, few,
disappear. So do mosquitoes.
Malaria usually keeps near the surf
Of the ground. So do mosquitoes.
Malaria ia most dangerous after 81
down. So are mosquitoes.
off
increased by sleeping in the night air.
with mosquitoes.
In malarial districts the use Of
affords comparative security agai
malaria. The doctor tries to stretch
parallel here by arguing that the Ii
Of the fire draws the mosquitoes and t
they fall into the flames and are burr
before they reach their human victims
Cities are not liable to be injected v
malaria, nor infested with mosquitoes
Malaria is most prevalent toward
latter part OF summer and In autuI
So are mosquitoes.
Malaria is arrested by canvas curts
khuEo Folls dnu LuOpIuILo ISI5s
quitoes ditto. .-..-. r.
Malaria Affects infants lsss frsquel
than adults. Infants are generally hot
the most of the time in beds or era
provided with fly or mosquito curtain
Negroes are less susceptible to NAL
than whites. Here the Doctor urges
funny corollary that the mosquito
see white man in the night much !
easily than it can negro.
The Doctor Celebrates these premia
the length Of dozen pages or so.
it will not do. His reasoning ia spe,
but not convincing. AS we'll NIGH
undertake to show that the
strikes throughout the land were 81
induced by realization of the blest
which the workingmen were prom
In the last campaign, should inu
them from the beneiceDt operation
protective tariff. f..
Portions of this Peninsula are su
10 annual visitations OF swarms OF
quitoes, and have been thus subject
time immemorial. Generally, the
quitoes do no not stay very long
they are very hungry while they
main. Yet in the same sections ma
diseases are almost unknown, an
and saasonad farmers whose father