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suffice to divide tlie laltcr into tliri-c ,i;r(Hi]is: 1. Diseases jiroper, due to 

 specilic or definite i)atlin,i,'enic causes; they are as a rule self-limited and 

 run a more or less well-defined course. 2. Diseases due to alteration in 

 structure and usually incurable when once fully established; some are 

 favoraI)ly inlluenced by surgical i>rocedures. li. Diseases due to altera- 

 tion in function or temiiorarily altered functionini,'. more or less prevent- 

 able or modifiable. 



1. Specific Di-srascK, those due to definite causes, as ]iathoi.'enic micro- 

 orjjanisms. The reaction of the body in its efforts to rid itself of the 

 enemy is manifested by signs and symptoms, and the syndrome or symp- 

 tom-complex is designated as disease, in other words, diseases are made 

 up of symptoms. In the absence of symptoms one would scarcely speak 

 of the presence of disease (although a disease may exist and not manifest 

 itself for a long time). Nosologists are attempting to classify diseases by 

 fheir causes, but so far only a good beginning has been made; much work 

 remains to lie done. 



To make fuM statements regarding the diseases of our State would 

 re(piire the iiossession of data, dillicult if not im])ossi)tle to obtain. The 

 ju'oper nutliod of studying the specific diseases of a counti'y woidd be to 

 consider them in the order of their appearance and how they dominated 

 other diseases .ai'.d iirevaliMit ill health. Here I can only briefly refer to 

 a few diseases. 



Malaria. This disease or its cause came early. Formerly our State 

 was very ■•unhealthy" on account of the presence of malaria. It domi- 

 nated everything. With the clearing up of wet places where mostpiitees 

 ))reed and by the f i ee use of (piiniue malaria has i)ractically disaiipeared. 



Afalnrial f(>ver is to be ruled out in dust infection. Many physicians 

 still suspect a ■•malarial element"' in many cases of connnou ill health, at 

 times referred to as a "touch of malaria." 'I'rue malaria yields readily 

 to <piinine in siillicient dosage, dust infection not. 



Physicians ;ire accustomed to spt'ak of another form of malaria. Lo- 

 cally we have the name False .Malaria. It is not deiiendiMil on tlu> Plas- 

 modium malari:e nor is it transmitted by the bit(> of mosipiitoes; it is 

 t'-ansmitted tlirongli infected i]\\si. It is. in short, dust infection m- Coni- 

 fsis. 



Some writers believe thai the ci\ili/.alion of ancient (ireece aiul itmne 

 passed away on account of the presence of malarial fever, in altering 



