Oh Malaria. 



the production of malaria, there is no reason, a priori^ why 

 they should not produce it. 



Now let us see how the experience confirms this ; and if it 

 does, then are we in possession of a very extensive class of 

 causes of disease, and of one which very especially we have in 

 our power as to correction, which, and not the excitement of 

 useless alarm, is the object of this paper, 



Volney's testimony as to the pernicious nature of millponds 

 is decided, as to America; and I have just quoted it. Mon- 

 falcon is equally decided as to the poisonous qualities of all 

 duch waters in France ; and all the Italian writers agree that 

 it is the same in their own country. And the evil does not de- 

 pend on the name by which they are known, or upon their 

 physiognomy, or uses, any more than it does on their dimen-? 

 sions. Let me mark a few of specific kinds which are con- 

 demned in foreign countries, as a guide to our judgments re- 

 specting our own. 



, There are many extensive districts in France occupied by 

 ponds rather than lakes, maintained and farmed for an inland 

 fishery, where the diseases from malaria prevail to such an ex- 

 tent, that the average of life does not exceed twenty years ; 

 where the people are decimated in every year ; where absolute 

 old age, in those who survive so long, takes place at forty ; 

 and where the aspect of twenty is that of fifty or sixty in coun- 

 tries such as our own ; where even the children are diseased 

 from their births, becoming subject to unceasing fevers if tliey 

 live to seven, and thus continuing till the not far distant period 

 of death arrives to terminate the literally long disease of life. 

 I can here refer to Mon falcon for details that I dare not en- 

 large on, and for authority that no one will question. 



Here is proof of the effect of such waters : and I will use 

 the same writer's authority as to condemnation of all canals, 

 ponds, and ornamental waters, of whatever nature ; besides 

 which, as to those who desire facts more specific, his word and 

 that of other French physicians, will probably be taken for the 

 fact, that the " canal" at Versailles, and the similar water at 

 Chantilly, which are mere ponds scarcely exceeding that in 

 St. James's Square, are the common causes of severe inter- 

 mittent and remittent fevers. 



