The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-05-05

entity represent young parasites. are
set free in the circulation, and are
ready to attack other red blood cor
puscles. GolYi first pointed ont the
remarkable fact that in infections with
the tertian or qHartan parasite the Or
ranisms are present in great groups.
almost all the members of which are at
approximately the same stage of de-
vclopmcnt. Thus in infections with
one group of the tertain parasite Sporu-
lation of the entire generation occurs
within a period OF a few hours every
other dav: in infections with the quar-
tan parasite within Il few hours every
fourth day. The ;estivo-autumnal para
site passes through Il cycle of existence
similar to that of these other organ
isms. with the exception of the impor-
tant difference that the tendency to-
ward arrangement in groups is much
less definite. the parasites frequently
beinr present in the blood in all stages
Of development.
Not all mature parasites. however.
undergo speculation. Some are OBJ
served to break up and become disin-
degraded, while others show an inter
csting change, which has given rise to
much speculation and inquiry. From
the full grown bodies there develop
suddenly number of actively motile
filamcnts which thrcSh about among
the surrounding blood corpuscles, and
not infrequcntlv break loose from the
mother cell rushing through the field
with lively scrpcntinc movements.
These flamcntS have been called
fla"ella. What is their significance:
Two main views have been held. On
the one hand. they have been consid-
cred stages in drgenerative process;
on the other hand. some observers have
believed that they represent forms in
the life history of the parasite destined
to preserve its existence under condl-
tions other than those with which it
meets within the human body. This
is view which from analogy with
what we know of other similar para
sites is not unreasonable. 1t is well
known that some parasites after having
passed through their intra-corporeal
cycle of existence, develop forms which,
while within the host which they then
occupy. are sterile, but which are capa-
BILE when. owing to the death of the
host. or from any other reason, they
reach another medium, of undergoing
further development, representing then
the first stage of second extractor
poreal cycle of existence of the organ
ism. mention these possibilities now
for | shall come back to the subject
later on in connection with some recent
studies.
Interesting as are these facts with
regard to the constant presence Of the
parasite in patients affected with ma
laria, one would naturally ask further:
a. Where and how do these para
sites exist outside of the human body!
(2.) How do they obtain entrance
into the body; in other words, how do
we become infected with malaria?
In answer to the first question, we
can only say "Wc do not know"
Analogy, however, with what we know
of other parasitic organisms justities
us in believing that the form in which
the parasites live outside of the human
body is entirely different from that
which they assume after they have ell
tered.
With regard to the second question,
''llow does infection take place" there
has been much speculation. Three
main ideas have been held:
(".) That infection occurs through
drinking water.
(b.) Through the inhaled air
o. Through the bites OF insects.
The theory that infection occurs
through drinking water is old and time
honored, AMI yet, not only is the posi-
tive proof wanting, but there is consid-
cradle evidence against tins hypothesis.
The diagnosis of malaria is often un-
fortunately, even to-day, very loosely
made, and when we examine the evi-
dence advanced in favor OF the water
born theory of the disease, We find that
much of what has passed for malaria is
undoubtedly typhoid fever which, as
we all know, is only too frequently
acquired in this manner.
Furthermore, many experiments
have been made which tend to throw
diScredit upon the watcr-horn theory
of the disease. Marchiatava and Cell,
Mariotti, Ciarocchi and /eri have all
tested the question by the administra-
ton of water from the most malarious
districts about Rome 10y the mouth,
10y the rectum, and rs Il spray to indi-
-iduals who have voluntarily subjected
themselves to the experiments. But
though the experiments were in some
instances continued through LONG peri
odS Of time. in all cases the result was
absolutely negative. Grassi and Feletti
administered dew collected from the
most malarious districts. but without
effect. They even went So far as to
drink fresh blood from an infected indi-