Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
MALARIAL CHILLS.
Due to Parasite Stimulated by Action
Of Red Rays.

From the New York Tribune
Additional insight into the phenomena OF
malarial fever may possibly be afforded by
a theory just outlined in the New York
Medical Record. That disease is now gen.
orally attributed to the presence of a para
site In the patients system, and the occur
renee of chills is believed to be due to, or
associated with. the operation Of splitting
or multiplication. DR.. A. F. A. King of
Washington expresses the opinion that the
process is promoted by the action Of red
light. Several reasons are offered for so
thinking. This organism belongs to the an
imal kingdom, and is practically an amoeba.
1t is already known that red light stimu-
lates other amoeba, and darkness seems to
prevent their multiplication. The great
majority of malarial chills occur during the
daytime. Inasmuch as the parasite Is i'm
mersed in the blood, it Is under the influ-
ence of a ruddy illumination when strong
white light falls on the surface of the body.
Finally 1t is conceivable that the compare
tive immunity Of negroes to malaria may
be in some measure an effect of the color
of their skin.
An ingenious phase of this hypothesis is
it's bearing upon the recognized potency of
quinine. That drug is one of several which
possess the property of fuorescence. Fluor-
escence affords violet light, and the lat
ter antagOnizeS or SuppreSSeS red rays. DR..
King deems it possible that the speculation
of the parasites may be checked by fluores-
cence. Quinine does not always break up
malarial fever: but 1t is suggested that the
organisms which remain thus obstinate
may be those of the Crescent type Ac
cording to DR.. Patrick Manson, leading
authority on the disease, the crescent
shaped parasites hide in the spleen, brain
and darker recesses of the body. Thus, in
DR.. Kings judgment. they are not exposed
to the huorescent action of the qunine.
Though shrewd laymen who have had
much experience with "chills and fever
may be able to pick flaws in the theory
here presented, and though physicians may
find it even more vulnerable, at least one
thing can be said in its favor. 1t is not
fatty contradicted by accepted notions in
regard to bacterial disease. Typhoid fever.
diphtheria and tetanus, for instance, are
the effects of toxins secreted by bacilli.
The germs of those and some other mala-
dies operate indirectly, not directly; and
their products can be, and have been, iso-
lated The parasite of malaria not being
form of vegetable life is apparently free
to work In an entirely different manner.
to DR.. Kings surmses, any lack of SINH
larity between the latter and the fairly
well-established theories of bacteriology
would be by no means fatal.
If by further experiment his convictions
should be confirmed perhaps new methods
of treatment might be suggested. At pres
ent 1t does not seem likely that quinine
will soon be superseded; but it would be in
teresting TO know what could be accom-
plished by the exposure of patient to yio-
let light or consignment to absolute dark
ness. Except in special institutions, the
former agent would not be available Even
there it would be costly. Darkness could
be more easily obtained in the patients
own home, be it never humble. OF
course there would be difficulty in per-
suading him to submit to it for long time
Still, If tests of the right character were
undertaken it might be found that the
remedy would prove effcacious without be-
ing absolutely continuous. Another line of
inquiry which might prove fruitful is a
hunt for drugs of higher f1uorescent power
than that of quinine Wisely directed effort
by physicians having malarial' cases ought
in a few months to throw much light on the
soundness of DR.. Kings views.