Mosquitoes and Malaria 
187 
“it has been officially estimated to cause a mean annual death-rate 
of five per thousand; that is, to kill every year, on the average, one 
million one hundred and thirty thousand.” In the United States 
it is widespread and though being restricted as the country develops, 
it still causes enormous losses. During the year 1911, “in Alabama 
alone there were seventy thousand cases and seven hundred and 
seventy deaths.” The weakening effects of the disease, the invasion 
of other diseases due to the attacks of malaria, are among the very 
serious results, but they cannot be estimated. 
Not only is there direct effect on man, but the disease has been one 
of the greatest factors in retarding the development of certain regions. 
Everywhere pioneers have had to face it, and the most fertile regions 
have, in many instances been those most fully dominated by it. 
Herrick (1903) has presented an interesting study of its effects on 
the development of the southern United States and has shown that 
some parts, which are among the most fertile in the world, are 
rendered practically uninhabitable by the ravages of malaria. How¬ 
ard (1909) estimates that the annual money loss from the disease 
in the United States is not less than $100,000,000. 
It was formerly supposed that the disease was due to a miasm, 
to a noxious effluvia, or infectious matter rising in the air from 
swamps. In other words its cause was, as the name indicated 
“mal aria,” and the deep seated fear of night air is based largely on 
the belief that this miasm was given off at night. Its production 
was thought to be favored by stirring of the soil, dredging operations 
and the like. 
The idea of some intimate connection between malaria and 
mosquitoes is not a new one. According to Manson, Lancisi noted 
that in some parts of Italy the peasants for centuries have believed 
that malaria is produced by the bite of mosquitoes. Celli states 
that one not rarely hears from such peasants the statement that 
“In such a place, there is much fever, because it is full of mosquitoes.” 
Koch points out that in German East Africa the natives call malaria 
and the mosquito by the same name, Mbit. The opinion was not 
lacking support from medical men. Celli quotes passages from the 
writings of the Italian physician, Lancisi, which indicate that he 
favored the view in 1717. 
Dr. Josiah Nott is almost universally credited with having sup¬ 
ported the theory, in 1848, but as we have already pointed out 
his work has been misinterpreted. The statements of Beauperthuy, 
(1853) were more explicit. 
