An essay on the non-existence of malaria : especially as a cause of intermittent and remittent bilious fevers : read before the Central Medical Society of Georgia, December 3, 1828 / by Alexander Jones.

  • Alexander Jones
Date:
1829
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the non-existence of malaria : especially as a cause of intermittent and remittent bilious fevers : read before the Central Medical Society of Georgia, December 3, 1828 / by Alexander Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    83 \z) Does not the N. E. wind pass over malaria districts 1—/T It passes over very moist places, such, perhaps, as are termed, by miasma lists, malaria districts. (y) The miasmaiists have always cited this as proof of the exis- tence of malaria.—H. This is very strange. We cannot for our lives see what proof this affords of the existence of malaria ; because very wet, or very dry years are salubrious : ergo, it is proof of the existence of mala- ria. Admirable conclusion ! If moisture be such an excellent vehicle for the union with, and conveyance of, malaria, we should strongly suspect its pres°nce during very wet summers. (z) This again, the miasmatists quote as favorable.—H. They are at liberty to do so ; it applies more in favor of our doctrine than theirs. (a) That it is something more than heat and moisture, which produces fever, is proved by the fact mentioned by Dr. Currie, in his medical reports—that it is a common practice among experienced seamen, on the coast of Guinea and other warm climates, when exposed during the night to a breeze from the marshes, to wrap their heads in a sea cloak, or other covering, and sleep fearlessly on deck with the rest of the body uncovered.—H. We have only s'ated that these diseases prevail most frequently^ when heat and moisture are present in a great degree, and alterna- ting ; not that they are alone competent to produce diseases under all circumstances, independent of the peculiar state of the excited, or relaxed condition of the system. We know very well, that annoint- ing the body or skin over with oil is said, not only to be a protective against the plague, but against malaria fevers, although the face, saliva, lungs, &c. are left exposed. We also know oil repels mois- ture, and is a very great protective against its effects. In the case above mentioned, the sea cloak, wrapped over the head and proba- bly the shoulders, might have afforded protection against moisture. The writer before quoted on malaria, or the reviewer of Doct. McColloch's work in the S. Review, page 180, combating the idea advanced by McCulloch, that animals are liable to malaria diseases, makes the following remarks in conclusion :— If our author should press us with tbe apocryphal statement concerning the protection afforded by breathing through a silk handkerchief, or a folded man- tle ; or the advocates of the gastric pathology urge upon us the proverbial advantage of stimulating the stomach with ardent spirits, or smoking ; we reply thai there is equally weighty evidence to establish the preventive influence of oil applied over the ivhole cuta- neous surface, while the lungs and stomach are left unprotected.—~ The exemption of animals from the influence of malaria diseases, our writer ascribes to the structure of their skins being so very different from man's, and so well protected by nature with coverings.— 11 Which, says he, w'ould, therefore, seem to be the organ princi* pally acted on by malaria. [By moisture more properly.] Again, says Dr. Havs, in further confitraation of what he has advanced, When the United States vessels were anchored at the N. W. part of the Island of Key West, in 1817, the trade, or S. E. E
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