The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-26
MALARIA IS THE ENEMY
THAT PREVENTS The PEACEFUL CON-
QUEST OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
PORTIONS OF THE GLOBE.
Malaria Is Caused by Parasite in the Human
Blood Wherever There Are Mosquitoes You
Find Malaria.

Find Malaria.
Mr.. Frank II. Mason. the consul gen
eral at Frankfort. Germany, has made
an interesting contribution TO the con
sular report for the month of July, il
view Of the fact that many Of our sol
diers in Cuba are suffering with malaria
fever. He writes that on the 10th OF
the present month Pref. DR.. Robert
Koch. the eminent bacteriologist. deliv
cred at Berlin. before 4 large audience
which included many eminent persons
specially interested in the olOnial policy
Of Germany. an important and highly in
tereSting address. embOdying the re
suits of his study Of malarlal diseases
in tropical ATTITUDES. The following syn
opSis of his theory and conclusions i,
translated from Il published report, as OF
presumable interest at this time:
"Malaria.' said the eminent scientist
lis the most formidable enemy which w
have to encounter. the most serious oh
Stacle to the settlement and development
of our colonial possessions in the tropics
We shall never enjoy the possession OF
our colonies until we have vanquisheG
this disease. The first step toward sue
cessful resistance is a thorough. accur
ate knowledge of its origin and the meth
DDS Of its dissemination.
CAUSED BY A PARASITE.
"Malaria is distributed all over the
globe. In its milder forms it is found il
this country in the form of swamp fever
1t appears in Il still more severe type il
Mediterranean countries. but worst OF
all in the tropics. Its most violent and
malignant form is the b~lack-Water fever
lyomitO). The exciting cause or germ OF
malaria in all its forms is ~unquestiona
bly, i parasite in the human blood, which
was first discovered and demonstrated
by Italian scientists. and the functions
Of which are now definitely known. II
appears rs one of the easily recognized
rings in the red cOrpuScles of the blood
which e~nlarges, splits into fragments
and within Il few hours produces more
than twenty young parasites, which are
distributed among corpnscleS. and thus
disseminate and extend the infection
throughout the blood.
Prof. Koch has succeeded in proving
that malaria. in its different stages OF
development. which are characterized by
an Internationally rising and SubSidins
fever. corresponds exactly with the de
velopment of the parasites: so that by
examination of the blood the progress
and stage of the disease can be definitely
ascertained. He has further succeeded
III demonstrating the exact moment fol
the effective administration of quinine,
which does not kill the microbe. but def
nitely checks and limits its power Of re
production.
PROVIDES 4 MEANS OF CURE.
This discovery was highly Important
Tor as Il result of it the physician can
with reasonable certainty. provide that
the disease shall be cured and not run
to Il fatal result. OF course, the cOnva-
leScence may be long and uncertain. fol
relapses which leave the patient weakel
and weaker are liable to occur SO long
as there remain parasites in the blOot
Against them no Sanitarium. no elevated
location. offers any certain remedy: bu1
it is. on the other hand. 4 consolation tC
know that recovery after a case of ma
laria may be rapid and that the disease
effects the constitution less seriously
than other feyers of equal temperature
and duration.
"Malaria is not contagious. The
means of its distribution have beer
sought for in the air and water, int
Koch believes that blood-sucking insects
are largely responsible for its dissemina
ton. Wherever mosquitoes exist ma
laria will prevail. Where there are II,
mosquitoes, cases of malarial disease
occur only when the infection has beel
previously received in a malarial locality
The exact relation of mosquitoes to ma.
larla still lacks, however. exact anc
conclusive scientific demonstration. An
alOgies are found where blood sucking
insects convey disease germs. as, for in
stance. the tsetse fly, and especially the
Texas fever among cattle. where. rs is
we'll known. the disease germs is carried
by a tick. or insect.
MAY BE ARTIFICIAL IMMUNITY
NO race of man is immune from ma
larial disease. Negroes living on the
coasts of tropical countries are practi
cally so. but negroes of the same race
from mountainous districts coming t,
the coast are susceptible to the fever
The former have. according to the opin
ion of DR.. Koch. acquired immunity
through slight malarial attacks during
infancy or youth. But. as there is this
naturally produced immunity. it must
be possible to produce an artificial one.
Ion this point DR.. Koch insists that il
iht tbSt VI ulStiSt. lit eAcltlIlS
cause of which is definitely known, tho
conditions are much less difficult than il
the case of other diseases. the germs OF
which are not known. as. for instance
h~ydrOphobia and cattle plague grinder
pestl, i'll respect to which Il certain de
gree of immunity has nevertheless beer
attained.
The first essential step in combating
the disease is for the patient to leave
Immediately the malaria-infected district
and be protected against mosquito bites
by p~rOphylactic doses of quinine. Prof
Koch believes that through his studies OF
malarial disease in the localities where
its most intense and ~virulent forms pre-
vail. the way has been opened to new
lines Of study. and new limits set to thu
dangers of the disease itself. He closed
his address in these words: To over
come this malady is equivalent to the
peaceful conquest of the most beautiful