The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-20
For the HERALD AND NEWS.
MIASM A.

In certain places, there is diffused
through the cir an exceedingly MN
ute quantity of a substance which
has powerful effect upon the hu-
man system, and frequently produces
death.
It is this which gives rise to levers
and to maladics Of more malignant
character.
This substance is found in
marshy and low places where veg
etable matter of an aqueous character
is in a state of decomposition.
But the winds which pass oyer
these swamps transport the malarious
afauvia to a distance and thus rem.
der whole tracts Of country unheal-
thy.
The corpuscules of this substance
appear to adhere to the molecules OF
water and are elevated with the latter
by the ascending currents of air to
heights which vary in different re-
gions.
Around the Pontine marshes IN
Italy it disappeared at the height OF
(7OO) feet. While in America, ac'
cording to some chemists, it is fourd
at an elevation of 5000 feet.
It is also observed, that humid air,
which transports miasma, is deprived
| of this noxious material by passing
through trees, and that in many cases,
in the same community, a screen OF
foliage is sufficient to produce a
marked difference between two places
otherwise similarly situated.
The diffusion Of malaria IN still
air, is exceedingly slow, ana hence
trees or buildings that tend to In
terrupt the current will much retard
it's transmission. Even wh!skcrs
will screen.
Miasma in perfectly dry air is in
such small quantities as to be unacces
sible to investigation, but also insult
fcient seriously to affect human life
it is otherwise in air cooled by the
radiation of tue night.
At this time it is taken into th'
/ system by swallowing respiration an'
fperhaps by absorption in sutticien
quantities to manifest ~aeietsElo:
effects.
In such places, therefore, caut'o'
should be taken against exposure u
evening precepitations and evapora
tions of the humidity of the atmos
phere.
Whatever may be the cause OF NJ
asma, experience has indicated tn
following precautions to those expos
) ed to it's influence.
lSr Use boiled water in pre1e,
r ence to any other, or pure raln'W;
r ter.
2SD. Plant trees between you
!. home and the low ground so as
r interrupt the damp wind from tt
r focus of emanation.
:, 3RD. Provide the windows
}. your parlor and bed room Wi
0 screens of gauze.
:. 4rH. Use disinfectants abo
e your home. Garry chloride Of I'm
# about your person.
e 9TH. Wear flannel next the boz
d which tends to stimulate the SIX
g and prevent the deleterious effect
le 9Th. Do not 60 out in the MOI
of ings until you take some slightly
It citing drink-such as coffee or tea
ID 7TH. Avoid as much as posslt
~ going out before the dew has eval
ie rated.
~ ~ From all facts it appears that
q. substance called miasma is an org
k lied body endowed with life a
er generated by the decomposition
aquatic vegetation.
Its introduction into the circr
lation of animals is a real innocr
)m
,0,. ton affecting the nervous system.
1t appears that the malarious
~ fuence is produced at certain t.
ter perature, and that it is favored
in marshy places by the heating Of
'ur water in shallow ponds.
'aN We give the above that it may
W.T. read, and thus prevent many a
orv day. Yours sincerely,
ain Beth Eden, 5. G. n
you
ed2
ALDET,NIATIC RESIGNATION