New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-25
his choice between blasphemy and confession OF
a presumption that would have been bias
phemous had 1t not been so ridiculous and con-
IMMUNITY FROM MALARIA.
tenlptible.

Recent announcements indicate that the mos
quito and it's relations to so-called malarial dis
eases are to be studied this coming summer
with vigor and intelligence 1t has already been
shown that the peculiar parasite that is found
in the blood of human victims Of these disorders
also lives in some mosquitoes. And the bite OF
mosquito is sometimes followed by an attack
of malarial fever. But 1t has not yet been
proved that the insect in question is the only
agent concerned in the distribution of the In
fection nor even If that should be true. is 1t
clear how best to guard against the trouble
These latter phases of the matter are likely TO
receive careful attention this year.
One elaborate experiment which has just been
planned is to be undertaken In that portion OF
Europe most afflicted with malaria, the marshes
of the Roman Campagna. The London Schooi
of Tropical Diseases and the British Colonial
Office will cooperate In the enterprise, the for
mer supplying a commission of medical experts
and the latter the money required. Two skilled
observers and their servants are to spend their
nights in a specially constructed hut from May
to October Inasmuch as the kind Of mosquito
that is believed to be responsible for the dis
semination of the infection bites only at night,
the conditions of the test will be enforced only
from an hour before sunset to hour after
sunrise. The four persons will stay inside the
hut during these hours but will be protected
by gauze doors window screens and other pro-
visions for excluding mosquitoes If, In spite
of all these precautions one Of the four persons
should be attacked with maarial fever. the fact
would prove that some other agency than the
insect also has a share In the dissemination OF
the disease. If. on the contrary, absolute I'M
munity enjoyed, 1t will be fair inference that
the mosquito alone is to blame. and that safety
in what are known to be infected regions Is to
be secured by suitable netting.
But it is desirable, Furthermore, to know just
how the mosquito acquires the malaral germ.
Some light will be thrown this question by
another experiment that has been projected.
This will be conducted In London. A quantity
of mosquitoes will be bred in laboratories, and
jealousy guarded against accidental infection.
Under careful supervision they will be permit
ted to bite persons whose blood contains ma
larial parasites and afterward to attack men
who are known to be absolutely free from this
faint. IF. now, any of the latter develop ma
larial fever, it will be evident how the mos
quito became infected.
1t will still remain to be shown, however, that
the mosquito acquire the germs in no other
way. and also that it transmit them only
by incubation. The latter is the i'm
portant of the two questions. If the mosquito
is alone responsible for the distribution of ma
larial poison but can disseminate it In more
ways than the one here considered. then netting
would be only partial protection, and it would
be necessary to fall back on a campaign of ex-
termination. But if the insect works harm only
by biting. the task Of defence will happily be
much narrowed and simplified. 1t is to be hoped
that American investigators will devote some
thought to this feature of the problem, and also
seek to verify Surgeon Major Ross's belief that
only mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles able
to communicate malaria