The times., 1898-07-18
THE GERM OF MALARIA.
Dr. Koch, the Bacteriologist, Dis
courses on the Disease.

IuE uEhM UF MALARIA.
Dr. Koch, the BacterioIogist, Dis
/ courses on the Disease.
Frank ii. Mason, American consuI-gen-
| eral at Frankfort, Germany, has trans.
mitted to the State Department an abb
stract OF an address delivered at Berlin
py Or. Robert Koch. the bacteriologist
on the subject of ''Malarial Disease in
/ Tropical Countries"
| Malaria said Dr. Koch, as the most
formidable enemy which we have to en-
| counter, the most serious obstacle to the
settlement and development of the
| tropics. The first step toward successful
resistance is thorough, accurate know
ledge of it's origin and the methods of its
dissemination.
Malaria is distributed all over the
globe. In its milder forms it is found in
TINS country in the form of swamp fever
1t appears in a still more severe type in
Mediterranean countries, but worst of all
In the tropics. It's most violent and ma
lignant form is the black-water fever.
The exciting cause or germ of malaria in
all its forms is unquestionably parasite
In the human blood, which was first dis
covered and demonstrated by Italian
scientists, and the functions of which
are now definitely known 1t appears as
one of the easily recognized rings in the
red corpuscles of the blood, which en-
larges, splits into fragments. and within
a few hours produces more than twenty
young parasites, which are distributed
among the corpusces ant thus dissent
nate and extend the infection throughout
the blood
Prof. Koch, IL is said, has succeeded in
proving that malaria, in its different
stages of development, which are char
aCterized by an internationally rising and
subsiding fever, corresponds exactly with
the development of the parasites; so that
by examination of the blood the progress
and stage of the disease can be denmtely
ascertained.
1t is alleged that he has further sue
ceeded in demonstrating the exact mo-
ment for the effective administration of
vuinine which does not Kill the microbe,
but definitely checks and limits its power
of reproduction. This discovery was
highly important, for as a result of II the
physician can, with reasonable certainty,
provide that the disease shall be cured
the convalescence may be long and un-
certain for relapses which leave the
patient weaker and weaker are liable TO
occur so long as there remain parasites
in the blood. Against tnem no sani-
tarium no elevated location, offers any
certain remedy; but it is. on the other
hand, a consolation to know that recoV-
cry after a case of malaria may be
rapid, and that the disease affects the
than other
feyers of equal temperature and dura-
ton.
Malaria is said TO be not contagious.
The means of its distribution have been
sought for in the air and water, but
Koch believes that blood-sucking insects
are largely responsible for its dissemina-
ton. Wherever mosquitoes exist malaria
will prevail. Where there are no mos
quitoes cases of malarIal disease occur
only when the Infection has been pre-
viously received in a malarial locality.
The exact relation of mosquitoes TO mala-
ria still lacks, however, exact and con-
elusive scientific demonstration. Analo-
gies are found where blood-sucking in
sects convey disease germs. as for in
stance, The tsetse fly, and especially the
Texas fever among cattle, wherein, as Is
well known, the disease germ is carried
by a tick, or insect.
No race OF man Is immune from ma
larial disease. Negroes living on the
coasts OF tropical countries are practical
ly so. but negroes of the same race from
mountainous districts coming TO the coast
are susceptible to the fever The former
have, according TO the opinion Of DR..
Koch. acquired immunity through slight
malarial attacks during infancy or youth.
But,-as there is this naturally produced
immunity, II must be possible to produce
an artificial one.
On this point DR.. Koch insists that in
tiTe-case Of malarial disease, the exciting
cause of which Is definitely known, the
conditions are much less difficult than
in the case of other diseases. the germs
hydrophobia and cattle plague in respect
10 which a certain degree of immunity
has nevertheless been attained
The first essential step in combating
the disease. says DR.. Koch. is for the
patient to leave Immediately the malaria
infected district. and be protected against
mosquito bites by prophylactic doses of
quinine. Professor Koch believes that
through his studies of maIarial disease in
the localities where it's most intense and
virulent forms prevail, the way has been
opened to new lines of study, and new
limits set to the dangers of the disease
itself.
He closed his address with these words:
ITO overcome this malady is equivalent
to the peaceful conquest of the most
beautiful portions of the globe"