The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-13
Malaria.

We have at hand tho review for 1919
Of the work Of the Rockefeller Founda
ton. as prepared by Its president Or,
Vincent Tho foundation Is charged
with work Of first-rato Importance
10 all southern states.
The Foundation Is an independent
corporation devoted to the cause oil
health and medical education the Woria
over, and controlling resources OF nearly
800 millions OF dollars. We are inclined
TO think that II Ia the first In impor-
lance Of all the philanthropic agencies
that have undertaken TO help mankind.
The enemies OF the human race are
its enemies. These are tuberculosis
yellow fever hookworm and malaria
Against these the Foundation 10 willing
to give battle in any CLINE.
The South particularly owes DEBT
10 the Foundation for guidance ana
financial assistance in the fight on
malaria. Under the 1919 plan the de-
clared policy Of the foundation was to
conduct a campaign againsts malaria IN
ut least four communities OF each OF
ten Southern states. These fortunate
communities were TO serve as model
communities; as demonstrations that 1t
was practicable. and economical to Keep
down malaria in any Southern COM
munlty
The Rockefeller Foundation Is not
busybody. It will not waste its gen.
crosby trying to help proud members
OF old Southern families who will not
help themselves, for that can not be
done, il fakes the cooperation OF the
local health authorities and OF the pub
lie to make an antlmasrial campaign
successful. and this must be assured
before the Foundation will begin.
Malaria is wasting disease that
does not kin at once, but It saps the
system OF its vitality and leaves 1t
weakened to tuberculosis or any other
mortal malady. Malaria Is a more po-
tent enemy to The cotton industry than
the boil weevil itself.
But malaria Is preventable, II can
be prevented by destroying the mos
quito that is Its sole carrier; and 80
in towns and thickly settled oommunl'
ties the method used is TO drain off
the standing water so far as possible,
and where II is not possible to Kill
the mosquito eggs by putting coal oil
on the surface, or by introducing a
certain variety OF minnow that eats
up the eggs
Even II the mosquito is not destroyed.
malaria can be prevented by adequate
screening.
But In the last resort. II the cost Of
screening can not be afforded, or II
people are constitutionally careless and
do not keep the screening tight, malaria
can be killed even after II has been
introduced into the human system by
the bite Of the snopheles mosquito,
ouinine does the work. and the health
authorities and the Foundation work
ing together see TO it that auinine is
furnished at cost to all the people.
Quinine is death to the malariai germ
the one sure specific known to medi-
cine.
In sunfloScr county, Mississippi ma
IaFia was fought 10 standstiU at
coat Of n dollar head. In six Arkan-
sas towns II was established that ma
LARA could be banished at a cost OF one
fourth the amount OF the damage 1t
habltually caused. measured in dollars
and cents alone.
The South will yet be as healthful
place to live in as any part OF this
country. The health OF It's citizens will
be proportionate TO their prosperity
and the combination will make them
supreme. The greatest hindrance to
this happy contamination today is ma
Iaria. and the way is charted by which
that plague may be relieved