The Raymer enterprise., 1912-07-04

At the age Of 50 Dr.. George Match.
am was highly respected member Of
the New York medical fraternity. An
investigator of unusual skill and acute
ness, the discoveries he made and the
papers he had written concerning them
gained him . wide reputation in pro-
fessional circles. We were Close
friends, and when. on his return from
4 prolonged visit to Italy he called
at my house. was shocked by the
change in the man. He was thin,
haggard. yellow Of complexion, and 1t
did not astonish me when he volun.
teered the information that he was suf.
fering from malaria In peculiarly ma
lignant form. It did. however, sur.
prise me when he stated that he had
resolved to allow nature to take its
course, and would not enlist medical
aid to fight the disease. He remarked
calmly that he was doomed, and
no argument to the contrary proved
Of any avail. Furthermore, he de-
clared that when he died . manuscript
explaining his Indifference to death
would be placed in my hands. Three
months later the event which he
prophesied came to pass. He was
found dead In his study, having finally
succumbed to the inroads Of the NAL
ady. A manuscript among his effects,
sealed and addressed to me. was
duly forwarded to its destination. 1t
contained the following history. which
will give in Matcham's own words:
1t was about year ago that Man.
sons published discoveries with re.
gard to malaria aroused my interest,
and l determined to make investiga-
tions on his lines for myself. For
this reason I resolved to pay visit
to the Campagna near Rome. and carry
on my investigations In the most ma
larial districts Of this unhealthy spot.
The cause Of malaria was known and
Its spread was all but proved, but
hoped that 1t might be my privilege
to discover the remedy.
was deeply in love with young
girl named Rachel Denza, whom had
known since she was child. Her ia.
ther was an ex.colonel In the United
States army. Col Denza adored his
only child, and she lived only for her
father. 1t was on the day before
left New York for Italy that l ven.
tured to speak openly Of my love to
Miss Denza. To my establishment and
rage she gently but firmly refused me.
controlled myself, however, and hav.
ing promised my old playmate that we
should always remain good friends,
took my departure. Outwardly l was
calm. but inwardly a tempest ragged In
my breast. II had intended Rachel
to be mine before asked her, was
now like man possessed on the sub
ject. The next day l sailed for Italy.
The time Of year was favorable for my
project, Rome being distinctly ma.
larial In the month Of August. be.
gan to make my Investigations at once.
My experiments from the start were
more for possible cure OF malaria than
on the cause Of Its dissemination, but
In order to attain the one had to In.
vestigate the other. It Is now no So
cret that the parasite which causes
malaria in the human subject is to
be found In the bodies of certain
mosquitoes. The special mosquito
which disseminates this terrible dis.
ease has spotted wings and lays boat
shaped eggs. For the mosquito in
question, when 1t bites a man infect
ed with malaria, conveys the disease to
the next healthy person whom 1t bites.
up to the present only the mosquito
with spangled wings. the anopheles,
is believed to be capable Of conveying
this dire infection from man to man,
but in all probability there are many
others Of the species which can per
form equally deadly work. As an.
opheles abounded on the portion Of the
Campagna where had placed my pat.
ent mosquito hut, equipped with wire
gauze doors and windows, had abun.
dant opportunities Of studying them.
Having taken the necessary precau.
lions. and being in any case. as I con.
sidered. impervious to the bite Of the
mosquito. I remained free from the
dread disease. I had been month
on the Campagna when one morning
received q letter from Rachel In.
forming me that che was engaged to
marry q certain Capt. Claiming, for.
merly In her fathers regiment. I
wrote formal note Of congratulations
TO Rachel and posted II. Before the
arrival Of that letter I was practically
human scientist who loved his work
and wished to benefit his fellow men.
Now, every thought was concentrated
, on one idea-how I could frustrate
Claiming and make Rachel my wife.
Before slept that night took tho
nrst step.
had o distant cousin BY the name
Of Marian Fletcher. She was . tall,
dark, handsome girl. over whom had
always exercised considerable infu.
ence, although was not vain enough
TO suppose that she loved me. It oc.
Cured to me that she would be use.
- III