The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-18

known to carry it, and it is probable
that the Investigators were not on the
qui vive for mosquitoes, the insects
that the trees stopped
In all events, the mosquito is the
chief means of carrying the disease
from place to place, though air and
water may still have something to do
with it. AS to where the mosquito orig
inally gets it, physicians have not de-
cided. He may absorb it from the wa
ter. He may get it from some other
source. 1t may be the result of an
attraction of organisms. Where he
gets it, as I have stated, is yet unde-
cided, though Investigations in that
line are being made constantly and in
time the question may be answered"
Mistaken Ideas of Malaria.
Dr. J. w. Daniel, who has given
considerable study to the mosquito,
said that while the Anopheles, the ma
laria bearing mosquito, exists in Sa-
vannah, there is no reason to fear any
unusual prevalence of malarial fever.
In fact, not 10 per cent. of the fever
cases in his practice in the summer
fever In the winter months the num-
Der is not more than 1 per cent.
People talk too much about ma
larfa," said DR.. Daniel. The common
acceptance of the word conveys the
idea of an unhealthy locality. People
go away every summer to the noun
tains and the resorts, and immediate
ly tell everybody that they had to
get away on account of the malaria.
OF course they do not know what they
are talking about, but they are do
mi WhATpNhr
the Anopheles exists there is likely to
be malaria, but the species is not so
common here that people have to flee
from it. There are great many mis-
taken ideas about malaria, as there
are about other diseases. In the sum-
mer time, especially, it is a common
expression when a person does not feel
well, to say that he has got malaria,
when in fact he has got nothing of
the sort.
1.-The Anopheles is unquestionably the
bearer of the malarial parasite. Where
it gets the parasite we do not know,
beyond the fact that it is from a per-
son already infected with malaria.
There is. of course, some other source,
but that has not been discovered. The
presence of the parasite in the blood,
once it is there, is readily detected by
the microscope and once located the
treatment Is known.
DIR. LattimOre's Opinion.
Dr. Ralston baltimore, in discussing
malaria and it's propagation said,
among other things:
"Malarial fever is propagated by a
mosquito of the genus Anopheles. 1t
acts as "a host and transmits the in
lection. 1t has been absolutely prov
en- to be the principal carrier and is
probably the only one. For a great
many years the Italians believed that
there was a connection between the
mosquito and malaria, but only re-
Gently, comparatively speaking, has
this connection been absolutely proven
by a series of demonstrations and ex-
periments.
IF the mosquito of the malaria bear
ing type is killed off, we should in all
probability have no malaria. The
Anopheles is well known, as are his
habits, and if the proper precautions
were taken by every one his num-
bers could be greatly reduced, even
if he could not be done away with
entirely"
Much of the information in the in
PRODUCTION to this article was cited by
DR.. baltimore from the various au-
thorities.
N
DR.. B. S. Purse, practitioner in Sa-
vannah for many years, in discussing
malaria and the Misunderstanding mos
quito, called attention to the fact that
the water conditions and the drainage
were still of prime Importance as it is
in stagnant water that the insect
breeds. In speaking of Savannah in
this particular he said:
1.-THE soil and the source of the water
supply is of prime Importance. In this
respect Savannah ranks high. / do
not believe that if proper care is taken
of back yards and precaution observed
in avoiding allowing water to stand
around, there will be any malaria in
the city. People almost invariably go
outside of the city to catch malaria.
Our water level is very low and the
water, before reaching us, passes
through loose porous soil, and is purl-
fled and thoroughly cleansed of all UNI
healthy matter. In regard to the low
water level, the incontaminable water,
the porous soil, and the good drainage
system, the health conditions of Savan-
nah are almost ideal.
There is no doubt but that the mos
quito, known as the genus Anopheles.
is the source of our malaria. As to
where he gets ii physicians and bac-
teriologists, are as yet uncertain. In
the malarial plasmodia of man endo-
genous, (frop within) and exogenous
(from withouD, developments must be
distinguished. The first has been quite
well investigated; the second is but
little elucidated. 1t is certain, however
thatthe intermediate host is the species
of mosquito named"
Depends on Beginnings of Life.
Dr. Louis NJ Warfield, who has made
a special study of bacteria and has
given much attention to malaria, de-
clined to discuss the subject at any
length, saying that he preferred to
merely cite references to authorities.
When asked where the mosquito got his
malaria he said simply:
That will depend entirely on your
theory OF life. Do you believe i'm the
Darwinian theory. the theory of spon-
taneous generation-for which there are
many strong arguments-or one of the
other theories2 When that is settled,
we may perhaps be able to tell where
the mosquito gets malaria. You may
take your choice now as TO whether the
man had Il first, or the mosquito.
Furthermore, / do not care to dis
cuss the matter. / can give You refer
ences to authorities to whom you may
refer. What they have found true in
italy. Spain. Cuba. and other points
will apply to Savannah"
KIN on the Mosquito.
Mr.. Otis Ashmore has made an ex-
tended study OF malaria and the mos
quito.