The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-05
Mosquitoes Do Garry Malaria.

Professors Koch. Pfeifer and Kessel
have Just returned TO Berlin from their
visit TO Italy where they have been IN
vestigating the origin of malaria Dr..
Koch has published his report, frem
which is published the following:
The chief object OF the expedition was
the study Of the so-called different kinds
OF maIarial fever prevalent IN Italy. snd
comprised under the name % febbri.
malariche oeStivo-autumnale. DR.. Koch
and his companions examined seventy
eight cases. They succeeded in determin-
ing the fact that this malaria can, from
the clinical standpoint. he divided into
subdivisions. but that SO far as its cause
Is concerned. IL constitutes a whole. and
is caused by a single clearly character
lied parasite All oestivo-autunnal fe-
vers are fundamentally real tsrstan feverS
viz. fevers causing the temperature 20
rise every forty-eight hours-and are in
no way distinguishabIe from tropical fe-
vers. That was unquestionably shown in
fresh cases at the beginning Of the Illness
II is only in later stages that the form of
the tertian type is obliterated. when the
administration of quinine and the CON-
mencement OF the natural immunity dis
turbs the course OF the fever.
Again. with regard TO the parasites
which cause the illness. there exists. &C
cording to DR. Koch's Investigations 10
distinctions between oestivo-autumnal fs-
vers and tropical malaria sufficient 20
justify a separation between them The
former supposition that the parasites OF
these fevers and OF tropical malaria were
different is explained by the fact that the
Italian doctors examine the blood when il
is fresh. without any reagents. whereas
DR.. Koch has the blood dried in covered
glasses. fixes II. and treats it with coIoTed
ingredients. by which process many fur
Their details are made apparent. Another
| important result was obtained by the eX
animation OF the malarial parasites.
There was a question about the meaning
OF the so-caIled half-moon shapes and Of
the whip" forms arising therefrom.
These We're previously regarded as decay
ing forms of the malarial parasites.
/ chiefly because they took no colorins Of
chromatin; butowing to improvements in
the coloring methods. the chromatin
bodies have been found in the half-moons.
and it has been proved that the whips"
! consist entirely of chromatin.
One discovery was made Of great I'M
portance TO the study of the means By
which malaria Is transmitted-viz.. the eN
istence Of the proteosoma. a parasite very
similar 10 the malarial parasite. Or.
Koch is OF the opinion that mosquitoes
are in reality accountable for the spread
! ing of malarial parasites, and carry them
from one person 80 another They are
the middlemen OF the parasites IN agree
ment with ROSES Investigations. DR..
Koch established the fact that proteoso-
ma is spread by gnats. Singing gnats
suck up the blood from birds attacked by
proteosima. and the parasite Is then fur
Their developed in their stomachs After
qualification forms like small worms APP
pear. and then crescent-shaped seeds, in
the poison and saliva glands OF the gnats.
We may safely presume that the ma
larial parasite goes through the same de-
velOpment as the professional
In support Of his mosquito theory, Or.
Koch refers to observations on the local
spread of malaria in and around Rome.
The city OF Rome lies in the midst Of an
extensive malaria district, but is itself
free from malaria. at least in the interior.
The cause Of this immunity cannot lie in
the air, or In the water, or in the food.
The only noticeable distinction between
the, town and its surroundings is that the
inner portion of the town is devoid Of veg
citation. and. therefore. entirely free from
mosquitoes. whereas the surroundings
swarm with gnats Of various kinds Ev-
erywhere where vegetation is 10 be seen,
in large gardens and so on, gnats appear
within and without the walls Of Rome,
and with them is associated malaria.