What is malaria? : and why is it most intense in hot climates? : an enquiry into the nature and cause of the so-called marsh poison, with remarks on the principles to be observed for the preservation of health in tropical climates and malarious districts / by C.F. Oldham.

  • Charles Frederick Oldham
Date:
1871
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: What is malaria? : and why is it most intense in hot climates? : an enquiry into the nature and cause of the so-called marsh poison, with remarks on the principles to be observed for the preservation of health in tropical climates and malarious districts / by C.F. Oldham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    through wliich that river enters the plains. The ])osition is 60 feet above the bed of the stream and is perfectly dry, open, -and free from marsh. At night, earlier or later according to the season, a cool wind blows, from the Himalayah, down the narrow rocky valley of the Eavee. This breeze is fresh and pure, and can convey no marsh poison ; it renders the nightly temperature of Madhopore, in the hot season, delightfully cool, compared with that of neighbouring stations, and con- tributes much to the general healthiness of the place; but -any one sleeping exposed to its influence, with insufl&cient covering, is almost certain to be attacked by fever. On the subject of cold night winds. Dr. Dunbar, of the Bengal Army, observes: '^Directly in front of the camp was a ghat or pass, leading to the valley of Sumroo, whilst on each side of the ghat, a range of hills rose to the height of about 500 or 600 feet. Th^ camp was pitched in paddy fields, which had only recently become dry, and in the rear was a thick and dirty jungle. The days were generally speaking close and hot, whilst during the night, cold and freezing gusts of wind swept with fury down the pass. I have experienced nothing in this countiy so cold, as were those nights we passed at Chitpele, which used to bring back to my recollection the mountain breezes of my native land.’^ ‘^^The effect of such sudden and remarkable variations of temperature were, as might have been expected, soon visible. Many cases of fever and dysentery were admitted into hospi- tal daily, and at one time, out of a force of nearly 400 men, there were no fewer than 70 to 75 in hospital.^^* Dr. A. Smith, in describing the diseases of Peru, says; ^^Near Payta, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. all is sunshine and heatj but, at sunset an icy wind blows down from the Cordillera, so that no bed clothes are sufficient, and causes a malaria so active, that it produces the most malignant remittent and intermittent fevers, which often prove fatal on first, second or thu’d, accession; or sometimes continued fevers, lasting two or three weeks. The white inhabitants who survive these fevers, have enlarged spleen and liver.’’f * TmUan Medical Journal, 1836.