New-York tribune., 1903-04-07
THE CASE AGAINST MALARIA.

In 1.-The Popular Science Monthly" for Aprh
Professor Glenn w. Herrck gives several rea-
sons for regarding malarial fever as more detfl-
mental to human welfare than Is commonly
supposed. The writer is connected Win ihe
Mississippi Agricultural College, and CONSIDERS
the matter almost exclusively from the Soutn-
ern point of view; but his conclusions are OF
more than local interest He first tabulates the
deaths from several different causes for the
year ending May 81, 1900, in his own State ana
Louisiana, Alabama Georgia and South caro-
lina Here are some of his totals: Consump-
ton, $50; pneumonia, 10,494; typhoid feVer,
6715; heart disease, 5,329, and malaria 4,'to
The direct effects Of malaria thus seem to be
comparatively small. It's indirect effect, though,
is more serious Leaving a patient. as does the
grip, in an enfeebled condition, it predisposes
him to attacks of something else. In this re-
spect it is responsible for much heavier NOR
tality than would appear from the foregoing
figures Indeed, the Mississlppian agrees with
DR.. Patrick Manson, one of the English investi-
gators Of the relation of the mosquito TO ma
lara in believing that the consequences to sur
yfvors are more formidable than those OF all
other infectious diseases put together.
The most original, If not the most impor-
tant part Of Professor Herrick's article touches
the injury done to agriculture and other indus
tries In the South by the disorder under cOnsid-
Grafton The proportion Of cases Of malaria
that terminate fatally is very much smaller than
that Of cases of consumption, pneumonia and
typhoid. Dozens of victims recover from the
former to one who survives the latter. The
aggregate amount of sickness produced by ma
laria alone is, in Professor Herrck's estima
ton. far greater than results from all Of the
others included in his tabulation. Accepting
ofb uIafio in hat
been worked out in Italy, he says that the Ats
deaths from this cause which appear in his table
represent 635, 900 cases during the correspond
ing year; and he is inclined to believe that this
is an understatement of the facts One ef-
feet of such state of things Is to reduce the
earnings OF the Individual and involve an In
convenient expenditure for doctors and medi-
cine. Another is to lessen the output Of cotton,
sugar and other produce in given community.
A third is to keep the price of land at much
lower level than it ought to attain. Speaking
more particularly of the delta of the Mississippi,
Professor Herriclx declares that if the time ever
comes when malaria and yellow fever are ban
ished by controlling the mosquitoes that region
will be the richest and most populous in the
United States
Though Professor Herrick does not fully COM
NIT himself to the new doctrine concerning the
motb00 DY WHICH 1HeSc UlSedSeS are
he casually mentions circumstance which pos
sibIy has some bearing it. 1t is notorious
that some people suffer while others are prac-
tically immune when subjected to apparently
identical conditions. To q great extent, no doubt,
the difference in susceptibility is one of bodily
vigor at the time of exposure. II two persons.
one exhausted with work. loss of sleep or from
other causes and the other enjoying robust
health were simultaneously TO inhale exactly
the same number of grip bacteria, 1t would not
be surprising if the former succumbed while
the latter felt no effect whatever Still, there
may be additional factors in the problem. Pro-
fessor Herrick says that during short stay In
North Carolina one summer he observed what
looked like discrimination the part of the
mosquitoes, which, by the way, belonged to the
genus anopheies. While he stood talking with
a certain man with whom he had close rela-
tions he noticed repeatedly that the other fell
low would be beset with the insects while he
himself was not attacked The man who was
bitten. and who was great sufferer from ma
laria, had thn delicate skin. The question
therefore arose in Professor Herrick's mind
whether the inadequate protection which nature
had given the victim did not invite puncture.
There may be something In the suggestion. 1t
is also possible that the mosquito is Influenced
by odors emanating from the body or by other
causes which operate before 1t alights. II the
true explanation OF the preference could be dis
covered a new method of averting mosquito
bites might be available