The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1901-05-22

clearly understood, / will briefly state
that this valley is bounded upon the
west and upon the east by range OF
The range upon the
west being much the higher. Tho
course Of the Bitter Root river run
ming through this valley together
with the mountains just described run
due north. A remarkable feature of
the range upon the west side is, that
if chalk-line we're stretched from
Lo Lo to point five miles above
Hamilton On the west side, it would
touch the base Of this mountain range
its entire length, there being no head
lands or mountains projecting to the
eastward which would defect the
wind in its passage either up or down
the river. From this fact it will be
observed we do not have this fever
upon the east side Of the river where
by far the greater portion of the pop
ulation Of the valley may be found,
since the atmosphere of the east side
is not contaminated by this malarial /
germ that passes up and down the
west side. Another reason, also, for
the absence of this disease on the east
side is, that we have none of these
swamps Whatever.
The general course Of the winds are
north and south and the atmosphere
therefore entering the valley near
Missoula passing south and up the
valley will, when 1t reaches the region
of the swamps near Lo Lo, become
laden with this miasmatic germ which
is arising from the swamps and those
breathing it are laid liable to its in
huence. Like two streams quietly
coming together, one being muddy
and the other clear, will fow along
the new stream thus maintaining
their relative position il not mixing
their waters and a definite line of the
two made to flow for perhaps miles;
in fact they will continue SO until by
agitation they become mixed either
by short turn in the stream or agi-
tated by cataracts or boulders in the
bottom. So in like manner is the
atmosphere IN its passage through the
valley. The wind upon its entrance
near Missoula which found upon the
west side, remains there during it's
passage up the valley south through
it's entire course, not being detected
and thrown across the river upon the
east by any head-lands. Thus We
find that the greater the number of
swamps there are, the more heavily
this atmosphere is to become laden
with these malarial germs. Thus l
explain why it is that this fever is
found upon tho west side Of the river
and never upon the east. We never
see this fever until the sun has melt
ed the snow from these swamps in
March or April and the warm sun has
caused the germs to rise from this
decayed foliage and impregnated the
atmosphere with them. Nor do we
find it later than the latter part OF
June, for about this time the surface
of the swamps have not only dried up
but we find them completely shaded
and darkened by the dense foliage
which is now appearing upon this
great variety of brush and trees
Logically / therefore conclude that
while all the germs may have moi
arisen from this soil, yet the proba-
BILE agent to-wit: The sun has ceased
to exert its influence thereon, being
prevented by the new foliage. This,
to my mind, is a forcible argument in
support OF my theory. Another evil
dence Is, that in the principal por-
ton of this district we have compare.
lively few cases, while, as we 60 north
and down the river towards the L.
Lo we find the number to increase
in ratio in proportion to the area ol
1.-The swamps.
Having thus presented my theory
i
iu reagrd to the origin Of this disease
/ will briefly refer to the opinions o.
some others which are at varianc,
with mine: II has been said by som,
, that it is in consequence of breathing
, the atmosphere containing the dus
of some kind which is blown from
, the pine trees on the west side, Will,
. others claim it is in consequence o
some mineral or other substanc
found in the water upon that side. Il