The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-24
MOSQUITOES AND MALARIA.

DR.. Koch, German, DR.. Bignami, Ital-
ian, and Surgeon Major Ross, English,
have each made extended studies of mala-
rial fevers during the past few years, the
first in Africa, the second in Italy. and
the third in India. The three agree that
the name malaria is practically a mis-
homer, since the so-called malarial fever
is not caused by breathing bad affair
poisoned by some unknown substance sus-
pended in it-but by a specific germ in the
blood. They agree further in saying that
the fever may be produced by the drink
ing of germ-laden water, and that prob
ably the majority of cases arise from this
cause. "A third point upon which they are
pretty well agreed is that mosquitoes are
prolific distributors of the germs of ma
laral fever through the process of inocu-
lating their victims with the poison from
their probosces. When the MOSQUITO
sticks it's bin" into the human cuticle
to get Its meal of blood 1t leaves in the
victims veins an atom of malaral poison.
A number of mosquito bites. therefore,
are sufficient to start colony of fever
germs in the blood, and the germs multi
ply with great rapidity
DR.. Bignami conducted elaborate expe-
rments on the line of the mosquito
theory. He discovered more than 100 diff
ferent species Of mosquitoes and ascer-
tanned that various kinds of mosquitoes
from different localities produced various
types of fevers In one instance he cap
tured a number of mosquitoes in one part
of Italy in which a certain kind of fever
was common, and carried them to another
part of the country where the special fe-
yer was unknown. There he permitted
his insects to bite young man, who
shortly developed the fever of the country
from which the mosquitoes had been
brought. Microscopic examination show
ed fever germs in the bodies and probos-
ces of the mosquitoes. Some of the in
sects were crushed in water, and after
short time the glass showed the infection
OF the water. This, it is claimed
strengthens the suggestion that malaria
laden mosquitoes from the swamps and
stagnant pools die in wells and springs
and thus place the poison where il Will
get down the throats of drinkers.
One feature of DR.. Koch's investiga-
| tons in Africa is of especial interest in
this section of the country. He found
that in localities where there were a sreat
many mosquitoes there was also much fe-
yer, and that as the insects disappeared
the disease disappeared also. He visited
a health resort which was free from ma
laria and found 1t entirely free from mos
quitoes. In the mosquito country he not
ed that those who carefully guarded
themselves against the bites of the in
sects, sleeping under nets, did not CON
tract the fever although they slept in the
open night air, while those who slept in
close rooms, but without nets TO guard
them from bites, took the fever. Similar
observations were made by the two other
! experts referred to. The New York Even
ing Post summing up aud commenting
on the Investigations of Drs Koch
Bignami and Ross with respect to the
mosquito as a fever germ carrier. saws:
Perhaps the most important result Of
| all these Investigations is the lesson that
what Is dangerous in malarious regions
is not the night air, but the nocturnal
mosquitoes. Windows may therefoneh be
left open safely, provided there is a screen
or a mosquito net. and the popular delu-
sion that night air is in itself dangerous
has received its death blow after having
shortened the lives of millions of peo-
pie"