The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-19
Is NIGHT AIR UNHEALTHFUL?
Doctors Contradict the Assertion that It Is,
in This Region, Conducive to Malaria.

Is the night air in this region conducive to
malarial The charge that such is the case has
been made, and very prominent clergyman
made the statement recently that it was preiu-
dicial to health to be out Of doors any length of
time during the night. There are many evil
dences that the puolic generally do not believe
the charge, for nowhere are public entertain
ments of oil kinds more frequent or better at
tended than those in this city. This applies not
more to theatrical amusements than to the
many other classes of entertainments which
frequently offered the public here Then the
absence of natural causes which would produce
a malarious atmosphere also argue against the
assertion, for the city is high and dry, with no
suburban marshlands to supply it with mosqui-
toes and miasm. In order, however, to more
effectualy refute the statements that have been
made concerning tho citys sanitary condition,
reporter interviewed three or four physicians
upon the subject asking them more particularly
in reference to night air
Dr. P. II. Jameson, one of the Oldest physi-
clans in the city, said: Malaria is general
term. and is frequently applied to any foul air
which may cause typhus, typhoid or even chol-
era. Indeed, the generical meaning of the word
is bad air. The word is generally applied
by professional men to the specific cause of
biliousness, congestive fevers and ague. That
-.
out. The malaria of tho older medical writer's
has almost wholly disappeared from Indanapo-
lis, owing to the aggregation OF houses and the
consumption. probably, of largo amount of
fuel. i doubt IL tnere are now a dozen cases or
old fashioned ague in the town. During Sep
TENDER and October there is some malaria in the
air at Indianapolis, as, during these months,
many of our people suffer great lassitude. Their
digestion is bad and their faces paler than dur
ing the other seasons of the year. But for the
balance of the year 1 doubt il have any
ma arIa hora
New York, and certainly less than IN Cincinnati,
Chicago or Louisville 4"
sit is not So" said DR.. 0. S. Runnels. ''There
is town of it's size in the United States that
has less malaria than Indianapolis There was
a time when that charge rested here and was
based on fact, but of late years we have been
exceptionally free from it. In the last few years
of my experience here l have rarely found
well-deveoped case of ague. During the last year
| have not seen half dozen cases The old
forms of so-cailed congestive chills are now also
unheard of. The change has been due to better
drainage. better water and better attention to
sanitary measures. Then. doubtless, there has
been a general change. We see these malarial
waves sweeping over the country. Other places
are suffering what once rested on us here. They
'fever known before. New Jersey now has as
much malaria as Indiana. There may be as
much malaria in some parts of this State as
there ever was, but l doubt it. Even the Kan
kakee swamps are not as bad they used to be-"
- DR.. +. S. Newcomer: This is malarious
climate. but God Almighty made the same air for
night time as for day. Whlie there is malaria
here there is no reason why man who exer-
cises ordinary care should suffer have lived
here thirty-sIx years and never had a malarial
chill There is not, however, much malaria
here as there formerly was. 1t was due to de-
composition and to the rich soil, and there still
exist causes for it, although in less degree.
You would suppose che cold weather would kill
off vermin. 1t does kill the insects, but does not
destroy the eggs which may hatch next year
Malaria disappears as the country is developed
and underdraned, and the surface is being pre-
sented to the There is enough malaria
yet, however"