On Malaria, 3lD 



There is yet one important source of malaria, arising in 

 rural situations, which I am bound to explain, and which will 

 complete what I have to say of the causes of its diseases on 

 shore : this is the steeping of flax and of hemp ; though, 

 with \is, the latter is rare, and the former not very common ; 

 except in Ireland and in Scotland, where, from the nature of 

 the climate, it is probably not very pernicious. In Germany, 

 France, and Italy, this has been fully proved to be one of the 

 most active and severe causes of fevers of this character ; as, 

 in New York and elsewhere, it has been similarly proved that 

 the same consequences, productive also of mortal epidemics, 

 have arisen from the putrefaction of coffee, potatoes, the re*, 

 fuse of the indigo manufacture, and other similar causes. 



It remains to notice but one case, and that an unsuspected 

 one,^ — a case also which will probably be disputed — while I 

 cannot help thinking that it is one of very extensive and seri- 

 ous importance : this is, bilge-water. It is remarked, in the 

 first place, that sugar-ships are peculiarly subject to bad fevers, 

 and it is well known that the bilge-water from this substance is 

 the most offensive that exists. Further, when a ship is what 

 is termed sickly, at sea, it is always found that she is what is 

 called afoul ship ; of which it would be easy to produce specific 

 examples in abundance from the history of the navy, were it 

 not from the hazard of personal offence. And to confirm this, 

 when it has been found that the same ship was sickly under 

 one commander, and healthy under another, the cause has been 

 equally traced to the neglect of cleanliness. And how destruc- 

 tive fevers have often been at sea, both in the naval and the 

 commercial service, needs not be said ; as it is unnecessary 

 to point out the great loss of lives, the serious inconveniences, 

 and, what is here especially necessary, the absence of every 

 other cause of fever in such a situation as the open sea. 



Now, if this class of fever is not the marsh fever, or the 

 produce of a vegetable malaria, it would form a singular ex- 

 ception to all the analogies recently pointed out ; while, further, 

 if it is not so, whence does it occur in exact proportion to the 

 presence of vegetable matter acted on by water, and whence 

 especially does it occur in so marked a manner in sugar-ships ? 



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