Middletown transcript., 1898-07-30

and interest
Malaria, said the eminent sci enlist
is the most formidable enemy which
we have to encounter, the most serious
obstacle to the settlement and develop
ment of our colonial possessions in the
tropics. We shall never enj " the p1s-
sessions of our colonies until we have
vaaquished this disease. The frst step
toward successful resistance is u
thorough, accurate knowledge Of its
origin and the methods of its dissemi-
nation.
SWAMP FEVER.
Malaria is distri uuted all over the
globe. In its miIder forms it is found
in this 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 malignant form is the
black water fever (vomito). The ex-
citing cause or germ of malaria in all
its forms IS PROFESSIONALLY a parasite
in the human blood, which was first
discovered and den1ns.ra;e ed 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
enlarges, splits into fragm ants, an d
within few hours produces more than
twenty young parasites, which are dis
tributed among the corpuscles and
thus disseminate aud extend the infec-
tion throughout the blood.
Professor Koch has su cceeded in
proving that malaria, in its differ eni
stages Of development. which are
characterized by an intermittenly ris-
ing and subsiding fever, corresponds
exactly with the development OF the
parasites; so that by examination of
the bio ID the progress aud Stage Of the
disease can be definitely ascertained.
He has further succeeded in demon
strating the exact moment for the
effective administration Of quinine,
which does not kill the microbe, but
definitely cheeks and limits its power
,,f 20 produnFinp
GREAT AID Te PHYSICIANS.
This discovery was highly important
for as a result of it the physician
can, with reasonable certainty, provide
that the disease shall be cured and not
run to fatal result. or course, the
convalescence may be long and nn-
certain, for relapses which leave the
pat ent weaker aud weaker are liable
to occur SO long as there remaiL para
sites in the blood. Against them no
sanitarium, no elevated location, offers
any certain remedy; bat it is, on the
other hand, consolation to know that
recovery after a case of malaria may
be rapid, and that the disease affects
tie constitution less seriously than
other fevers of equal temperature and
duration.
Malaria is not contagious. The
means of its distribution have baen
sought for in the air and water, but
Koch believes that blood-sucking in
sects are largely responsible for its
dissemination. Wherever mosquitoes
exist malaria will prevail. where
there are no mosq uitoes, cases of ma
larial disease occur only when the in
fection has been previously received in
a malarial locality. The exact rela-
tion of mosquitoes TO N mllaria still
lacks, however, exact and conclusive
scientific demonstration. AnaIogies
are found where blood sucking insects
covey disease germs. az, for instance,
the tsetse fly, and especially the Texas
fever among cattle whereas, is we'll
known, the disease germ Is carried by a
tick, or insect.
=
NO RACE is IMMUNE.
No race OF man is immune from in.-
larial disease. Negroes living on ths
coasts of tropical countries are prac-
tically so, but negroes of the same
race from mountainous districts CON-
ing to the coast are susceptible t. the
fever. The former have, according to
the opinion Of Df. Koch, acquired
immunity through slight mtlarial
attacks during infancy or you h. Bdt,
as there is this naturally prolucsi i'm
munity, it must b, possible to prldac5
an artificial one.
Oh this point Df. Koch insists that
in the case OF mslarial dissI5e ths ex-
citing cause of which is definitely
known, the conditions are much less
difficult than 10 the case OF other di-
seases, germs Of which are not kaowa,
as, for instance, hydrophobia and
cattle plague (rinderltstl, in respect to
which certain degree of immunity
has nevertheless bseu attained.
The first essential sep in combating
the disease Is for the patient to leave
Immediately the malarial-infested dis
strict, and be protected against mos
quito bites BY prophylactlc doses OF
quinine. Professor Koch believes that
through his studies of malarial disease
In the localities where its 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 ad-