The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-05-08
Good Comes From Evil

Good Comes From Evil
Millions of Americans will remember when the mo
uito carrying the malaria germ was regarded as an Vi
mixed evil and would have been considered a blessing
hey had been completely eradicated, never again to a.
ear upon the earth.
Had this been done, however. it now seems probah
hat thousands of persons would have been denied Il
pportunity to recover from paresis, a disease which pr
uces insanity and. If unchecked. results in early death
The Misunderstanding mosquitoes enter the picture b
ausc science has found that parcsis may be cured
persons afflicted with paresis to this malad
A recent statement by the U. S. Public Health servie
S reported by the U. s. Daily. a newspaper given ov
o reviewing the activities of the federal and state go
rnments, says:
Insane patients. suffering from paresiS, which
also is termed general paralysis of the insane
and which Is fatal if not treated promptly and ef-
ficiently, often are cured completely when they
are infected with malaria, it was explained. The
mosquitoes will be bred in large numbers by the
Service to infect such sufferers with malaria, it
was said.
Numerous demands for the malarial mosqui-
toes already are being made by institutions
where cases Of softening of the brain are being
treated. According to the explanation, a Pub
lie Health Service laboratory located in the
Southern malarial belt of the United States will
be selected as the breeding place Of the insects.
The following additional information was made
available at the Service:
After the mosquitoes have matured and have
been infected with malaria they will be transport
ed to Washington. D. c. The insects will be carried
in a thermonal jar which will keep them in a low
temperature while being transported. From
Washington the mosquitoes will be distributed
recu1ar1v fhro1lrhOlt the country AMONG the in
situations which already are making demands for
them. Special attendants will accompany the
insects during transportation, regardless of dis
lance.
THE breeding of the insects already has been
carefully planned. One female mosquito pro-
duces about 5000 eggs, which hatch about evenly
into males and females. All Of the mosquitoes
will be kept in Melted cages.
After the eggs have Matched and the larvae
have become adult insects, the fully grown mos
quitoes must be infected with malaria. This IS
accomplished by allowing them to feed on the
blood Of an infected human being. Mosquitoes
require about two weeks to develop malarial in
lection. which is acquired by only about "a per
cent of them.
The use Of the mosquitoes for malarial treat
ment Of softening Of the brain must be confined
to hospitals, as a precautionary measure proposed
by the Public Health Service in conjunction with
its mosquito service. Private cases outside of such
institutions may not be treated under the rule
DIR. -Jauregg of Vienna discovered in
1927 the value of treating paresis, or ~softening Of
the brain with malarial infections. He found that
certain 'spirochaets' in the blood which caused
paresis were destroyed by the effects Of malarial
fever on human beings.
"A large number Of State institutions have put
in requests for the cultivated mosquitoes, for
which the demand at present far exceeds the
supply.
THE mosquito of the genus Anopheles Of the
species Quadrimaculatus has been selected as the
one to be used for the malarial infection Of
paresis patients. Actual results of the treatment
have shown that many persons suffering with
~softening Of the brain are cured completely. and
that others are much improved by the malarial
treatment.
Malaria fever itself. after 1t has been intro
duced into the system Of q patient, Is cured easily
by the administration Of ~quinine."
Since malaria fever no longer is the dread menace
uman life and happiness in the tropics which it on
nee gives us an example Of the old saying. there
,me good in the worst Of US" In the case Of the malari,
arrying mosquito the bad seems to have been eliminate
: at least adequately controlled, and the present goe
ow overshadows the former evil.
Truly, God moves in q mysterious way His wonders
erform."