The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-08-06

that of the cities OF Memphis and Nash
vile. We have then the irrefutsble
the Canal zone is considerably below
evidence that malaria is preventable.
If seventy deaths from malaria
occurred in Memphis in 1913, and these
figures were correct, it means that
there were in that year fifty thousand
cases of malaria in Memphis. 1t is true
that practically all of this was imported
from the surrounding country, but with
respect to the economic loss. one may
figure that those $4,000 cases repre-
scented loss of time equivalent to 200,
900 days, and doctor bill amounting to
perhaps quarter of million dollars.
If we add to these considerations the
fact that the overwhelming number of
these cases of malaria occurred in
people of the working class, with whom
an econmic loss is a serious matter; if
we further figure that those people
must reckon with an additional period
Of time during which their earning
capacity has been diminished, it is not
too much to say that the story of one
years malaria in one city represents a
lOza s o,,o- i, -. .IIso. loll.w.
Now, how can we curtail this enor-
nous economical drain?
The disease is not due to bad air as
its name woGd suggest, but tbs due to
a blood parasite, which, entering the
led blood corpuscles, destroys them and
multiplies in doing so. This blood
parasite is introduced in only one way
that is by the bite of mosquito which
has previously bitten malaria carrier.
A malaria carrier is person VINO has
kSd several chils and has received just
enough treatment to relieve him of his
symptoms and not enough treatment to
sterilize his blood. The form of the
parasite which produces the fever is
not the one which is transmitted by the
mosquito. 1t requires several re-
petitions of the chill to produce the in
fectious type of parasite;if, therefore,
the patient is thoroughly and properly
treated in the beginning, such patient
will not become malaria carrier. The
item Of greatest Importance then in the
prevention Of malaria is the proper
handling of those sick with malarial
fever or chlls, which is the same thing.
If one such malaria carrier is bitten by
a mosquito of the right kind, that
mosquito will, in the course of week.
have as many as 500 thousand spores in
its salivary gland, and is able to infect !
a very large number of persons. 1t
can therefore be seen that every per-
son should be made acquainted with his
responsibility to his neighbors if he
allows himself to become a malaria
carrier. This is only one example of
the enormous socialogic Importance of
disease prevention.
In order to prevent the dissemination
of malaria in the presence of malaria
carriers, there are several other posi-
bilites.
1.-The destruction of shelters for
Mosquitoes can not. live
in the bright sunlight they seek refuge
in shrubbery, brush and weeds, as
they are easily carried by the wind and
have a certain amount of home attach
ment. Mosquitoes will not, of their
own volitiOn, stray very far from their
breeding places.
All shrubbery which is not ornament
al and all weeds especially along the
banks of ponds, streams and bitches
should be kept out close to the ground.
Ornamental shrubbery may be sprayed
with mixture of crude and refined oil,
OF it may be fumigated from time to
time by making a smudge in such rela.
ton that the wind will drive the fumes
Or smoke through the shrubbery. This
Is best done Immediately pr eceding a
rain, because mosquitoes deprived of
shelter perish readily in the rain.
naatruction If hraadino nlaras