336 Italian Malaria. 
Art. XITI.—On the Malaria of the Campagna di Roma. 
Translated and communicated by Prof. Griscom. 
At a period when so much is written, and felt of the prevalence of 
epidemic diseases, and while in the United States, there are ine 
districts which are subject to the periodical visitation of epidem 
fevers, and our own country as well as others, is liable oe 
philosophy is still so much baffled in its attempts to trace the intimate 
connection between meteoric and terrestrial influences, and the physi- 
ological changes of the human system, it is the part of wisdom to 
ursue the investigation, by a careful and industrious collection of 
facts. To the want of a sufficient acquaintance with the various 
phenomena attendant upon atmospheric changes, taken in connec- 
tion with topographical peculiarities, and habits of life, must be at- 
tributed the darkness which still invests the various departments of 
pathological science. Knowledge, solid, practical and useful, makes 
but slow progress; but that it does make a progress, no one who 
compares the present state of chemistry, mechanics and astronomy, 
and the arts dependent upon them with their condition in the time 
of Lord Bacon, can hesitate for a moment to admit. The discovery 
of the circulation of the blood, of the constituent principles of at- 
mospheric air, and of the nature of some of the changes which take 
place in respiration, together with the light which has been shed upon 
some other of the vital ie tnust be regarded as important steps 
Poor icy nic wr iage These advances, together with the very 
extended know of the composition and properties of matter 
which has been <a within the last half century, through the 
labors of Franklin, Black, Scheele, Priestley, Lavoisier, Davy and 
others, and the activity which at present prevails among men of sci- 
ence, encourage the belief that discoveries may yet be made which 
will lead to the detection of the real nature of the causes of Malaria, 
and elevate the dignity of medical philosophy by the application of 
remedies to this subtle and pervading poison. If the following essay © 
SUR LE MALARIA DE LE GAMPAGNE DE ROME, taken from the Bibli 10- 
theque Universelle, of Geneva and constituting a portion of Fragmens 
Pun voyage en Italie (Morgenblatt, 1831) is deemed appropriate to 
the American Journal, its insertion is respectfully submitted.—G. 
“Every body has heard of the bad air which exerts its pernicious 
influence in the latter part of summer, and which depopulates Rome 
‘ 
