Evening star., 1896-03-31
THE SOURCE OF MALARIA.

An Investigation That shows 1t is
Oftener In the Water Than the Air.
From the Medical Journal
The investigation on the source of ma
laria has had the writer's attention for
over two years. and in that time large
amount of clinical testimony has been col
lected from all known malarial districts in
North America: the final report, however,
will hardly be ready for publication for
some months, but from the work already
completed certain facts have been obtained
which will be embodied in this short no
tice.
The introduction Of artesian wells, first
by the railroad companies who desired a
larger supply of water than had hitherto
been available, and the accidental use of
that water by the people in the immediate
vicinity, soon produced a marked dminu-
ton of malarial trouble in those localities.
The artesian supplies were, on the whole,
satisfactory to the railroads that their
Introduction became very rapid, and In a
few years most of the South Atlantic lines
depended upon this source of water sup
ply The evidence that in the exclusive use
of the deep-seated waters there was entire
immunity from malarial trouble was ap-
parently so ineontestable that determined
upon critical examination of all waters
known to produce malaria and those that
in malarial districts were proof against it;
this examination is not only chemical, but
biological and pathological
In the present state of our knowledge We
do not expect to be able to draw a sharp
line between waters that produce malaria
and those proof against it by purely chem
ical analysis, nor, on the other hand, can
We hope to identify by biological examina-
but We may by the former succeed in isolat-
ing certain toxic products peculiar to those
waters only, and by the latter certain
line of testimony that, in conjunction with
the chemical Investigation, will yield very
valuable results. The work thus far has
proved satisfactory beyond expectation and
from the work already done, and the
character and amount of evidence be-
fore me, 1 am justified in stating that the
lorg current of belief that the source of
malaria is in the air is in error
The germ, which is of soil origin. is strict
ly protozoa, and reaches it's highest de-
velOpment in low, moist ground with
favorable temperature Surrounded by the
proper soil conditions, this protozoa passes
from one stage Of life into another with
considerable rapidity, SO that in the present
state of our experimental knowledge it is
impossible to identify it, nor is it probable
that by culture We shall be able to produce
the accepted Laveran germ outside Of the
humG n system.
AS a rule the potable water from the
rlalarial districts IS derived from driven
wells not over twenty-five feet deep, in
SOIL with clay or some other impervious
substrata, Whicn water is generally cool
more frequently little turbid. This water
is filled with an incalculable number of
these germs In all stages of DEVELOPMENT
and if used as potable water they nat
urally find their way into the system
through the alimentary channel This pro-
tozoa passes through so many forms or
stages of life that in some stages it is light
enough to float and be transported by the
moist air of low gvoundS. but in this state
it is comparatively harmless except under
most extraordinary conditions; it is not
until the surface water Is used that the
mischief begins, when. by reason of higher
develt pment. 1t has become much more
virulent than that floating in the air. A
very short period of incubation is suffi-
Client to develop severe case of malarial
fever in the newcomer who uses the surface
water.
From personal observation know that
the exclusive use of pure, deep-seated water
affords entire immunity against malaria in
sections of country where no white man
dared live using .he surface water. Nor
must 1t be understood that the exclusive
use Of pure water simply fortifies and
strengthens the system against the attack
of the germ. The water is the primary
cause of infection, which acts as the direct
carrier Of the germ into the system
through the intestinal tract.
The impression that malaria is caused bv
purely atmospheric influences has become
so fixed IN our minds that, unless We come
in actual contact in the evidence produced
heretofore used, the physician will, in all
probability, be very slow to allow himself
to be convinced that the word malarial
(mal. bad: aria, air) Is q misnomer, and
that malaQua (mal, bad: aqua, water) is the
word that should he used to convey the
perniciouS effects known under the name of
malarial fever.