The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1901-05-22
THAT SO CALLED SPOTTED FEvEE
DR.. Howard Advances a Theory as te
its Origin.

its Origin.
DR.. Howard, in the following, inter-
advances his theory as to the |
origin of the so-called spotted fever".
His theory, which amouts to conviction |
has the merit Of originality, in that it
is widely at variance with those held
by the other local physicians and who
differ widely with each other. The
Doctors article follows:
In response to urgent appeals from
many Of my friends, and especially
those Of Mr.. Romney, editor of the
Western News, I shall endeavor to
present my views respecting what is
commonly known as spotted fever in
the Bitter Root valley. How that
this fever in the first instance should
ever have been called spotted fever''
is more than a mystery to me, mas
much as this fever is minus all the
chief characteristics of true spotted
fever. Hence the term is not we'll
taken, and is decidedly misleading.
On taking up my residence here
about four years ago, / was con-
fronted with statements and reports
concerning this fatal and mysterious
malady which was brought to my
notice by all with whom l conversed.
/ therefore was anxious to see case,
and / did not have to wait long until
my curiosity was fully gratiied.
Upon examination of the first case
my diagnosis was that I was con-
fronted with case of pernicious, or
malignant remittent fever. By refer
ring to my authorities 1 found that
that this has been described in the
past under various names, such as
endemic fever;" "marsh remittent;'
''malarious remlttent" and Jungle
fever, but tor the sake of my own
convenience I chose the term ''perni-
cions' or malignant remittent fever !,
the history of which has been known
for many years to a very limited
degree on this continent, but its prln :
cipal locality has been found in the
West Indies and the southern por-
ton OF British India where it has
proven MS fatal as in this section.
1t will thus be observed, that in ac-
cordance with my diagnosis it would
necessarily follow that its origin
arises from decomposing vegetable
matter. This gave rise to the qucs.
ton by me if there be any swampy
places in that region of the country,
and l was answered in the affirma-
tive. Upon further inquiry I learned
there was large swamp both north
and south of my patients home. ]
am reliably informed that swamps
begin at point from five to ten mile,
above and north Of Hamilton on the
west side Of the river and extending
to a point near Lo Lo thus extending
for distance Of about fifty miles.
All the swamps are found upon the
west side of the river. Upon inquiry
found these swamps to cover ar
area ranging from few acres to thai
of thousand, covered with a dense
growth Of brush and timber consist
ing Of perhaps fifty varieties O
shrubs, and ranging in height from
six inches above the surface to a.
: high as fifty or sixty feet, thus com
. pletely covering the ground will
These various species SO that it would
seem to be impossible to thrust ,
stick into it. Each one of this. grea
number of shrubs or trees produc,
an abundant foliage which in tA,
autumn fall and cover the ground t.
a depth of six inches or more. Ii
due time, thereafter, the snow fall
and covers this foliage which remain
until the warm sun of March or th
| first of April melts it away thus leav
| ing the ground exposed to the ray
| of the sun. / assume this foliage
be now in decomposed state an
giving rise to the malarial germs thu
produces this disease, but whether
be from the foliage that fell durin
tie previous autumn or whether it
that which fell one year or more pr
ceeding; from whence the germ aris,
/ is more, than I, at this time, am alb
to say, but that it is ? fact, am mo
than certain. In. order that l may