The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-10-16
LEMONS VS.. MALARIA.
The Fruit Claimed ro Be a Panacea
for the Disease.

Ine fruiI Clalmeu tO be fanacea
for the Disease.
The eighth session of the Inter-
national Medical Congress has just
been held in Copenhagen. Through
the enterprise of the Medical Record.
synopsis of the proceedings and q
few of the most important papers in
full have been received by telegraph.
The paper of greatest scientific and
popular interest to the American peo-
pie is that read by Professor Conrad
Tomassi Crudeli, of the University of
Production of Malaria. and the Means
of Making Malarious Countries Health
ier."
Professor Crudeli has devoted years
to the scientific study of malaria, and
is without doubt the highest authority
on the subject. His conclusions are,
therefore. entitled to great weight.
He repudiates utterly the paludal
theory of malaria, that is. that malaria
is exclusively produced by the putrid
emanations of swamps and marshes.
On the contrary, he finds that it is pro-
duced in soils of the most varied COM
position, without the presence of any
putrefaction whatever, and is due to
the presence of specific living vege-
table germ. This germ may exist in
soils without poisoning the atmos-
pnere. remaining inert Tor years, even
for centuries, retaining its vitality,
however, and becoming active only
when certain necessary conditions are,
present. These conditions. the con-
currence of which is indispensable for;
the production of malaria, are three in
number, viz: A temperature which
does not fall below 67.5 degrees
Fahrenheit; 4 very moderate degree of
permanent humidity of the soil. and the
direct action of the oxygen of the air
upon the strata of earth containing the
malarial ferment.
Such being the factors in the case,
what can be done to remove one or
more of them and thus render maIari-
Gus regions more salubriOus? In the
first place nature makes localities
healthy during certain seasons by tax
ing away the factor of heat. there
being less malariul infection in Winter
than in Summer. But this means is
obviously beyond the reach of man,
nor is it at ali certain that it would be
effective in this country. if within his
reach. for every physician has noted
the fact that, while lnalarial diseases
prevail TO u less degree in frosty wealth
-st-el4 r==5us t==r-C rcf<sF5scs and new
eases occur. even in mjdwinter.
The second means of prevention con-
sists in depriying the ground of its
moisture. by some system of drainage,
by cultivation of plants and trees
which consume a large amount of
water in their growth. or by the de-
structiOn of dense forests which pre-
vent the rays of the sun reaching and
drying the soil. Much hope was placed
in the eucalyptus tree as means of
extracting moisture from the ground,
but the experience with it, in Italy, ut
least, is not encouraging.
The third method of publication is
to prevent the direct action of the oxy-
gen of the air upon the infected strata
of soil. This has been successfully
accomplished by the system of over
laying. which consists in covering the
infected ground with thick layers of
uninfected earth, at the same time em-
plOying thorough systems of surface
and underground drainage. Regions
about Rome, heretofore malariouS,
have been benefited by macada MIXING
and turing the ground.
In districts where malaria prevails
in pernicious form it is difficult 10
carry out large works of improvement,
which take time for their accomplish
ment, such rs the forced cultivation of
the soil, because of the sickness of the
laborerS. Professor Crudeli has there
fore been devoting the last few years
to a search for means to increase the
power of resistance of the human
organism TO the attacks of malaria.
Acknowledging the great value of
quinine and arsenic, as preventive and
curative, he has still sought to discov-
er cheaper, harmless and yet effec-
tive remedy, and this he believes he
has found in the ordinary lemon. He
does not claim the discovery as origin,
al with himself. or indeed with any:
physician. but candidly acknowledges.
the remedy to be of popular origin.
and. with true scientific spirit, seeks.
knowledge not only in the exact re-
searches of the laboratory. but also in
the everyday experience of common
people. He advises that a decoction of
lemon be made as follows: Cut up
one lemon, peel and all, into thin
sIlceS, put INTO InFee 0ldSSIulS OF wafer
and boil it down to one glassIui.
Strain the liquid through linen, squeez-
ing thoroughly the remains of boiled
lemon. and set it aside to cool. Drink
tho whole amount when fasting. AS
the decoction possesses cathartic prop
critics the dose should not bo repeated
too frequently. nor more than once a
day, or every other day, according to
individual susceptibility.
Whether the decoction of lemon will
prove to be of permanent value can
only be determined by extended ex-
pertinent. 1t is claimed for it that it is
especially efficacious in the chronic
forms of malarial poisoning. which are
no longer relieved By quinine. As the
remedy is cheap and innocuous it will
probably receive almost universal trial,
rs it is recommended by such
eminent authority. 1t is to be borne in
mind. however. that malarial mani
are not exactly the same in
different countries and in different in
and that a medicine curative
in Italy may be less so here. 1t is to
be hoped that the subject will receive
such careful study that the exact type
of malarial poisoning tn-whieh it is
adapted may become known and accu-
rately dcfined.-HdrtfOrd COurdht.
GnaEa IIc,inn