” 
Italian Malaria. 841 
The learned Moscati thinks he has discovered that the basis of the 
foul air which causes these pestilential fevers, is an aqueous humor 
which contains an animal mucus in which the venom resides. Broc- 
chi has made some experiments upon the nature of Malaria. He 
selected for this purpose the country which surrounds the basilica of 
St. Laurent, without the walls, one of the most unhealthy of Rome, 
and continued his labors during several successive nights. A robust 
young man, whom he took for his assistant, slept several hours du- 
ring the first night, and was seized the following morning with an in- 
- termittent fever, which he retained for several weeks. © Brocchi con- 
densed, in various ways, the air which he had collected, and obtained 
in every case, a notable suey! of putrid water. 
It remains for us to say a few words on the manner in wee this 
foul air acts upon the animal organization. With respect to the mode 
by which it penetrates our bodies, Brocchi has several reasons for 
thinking that it penetrates rather by the pores of the skin than by 
respiration. When once the noxious particles are introduced into 
our organs they combine with the humors; the general organization, 
or more properly the force which tends to preserve it in its neers 
Opposes this combination, and from this results the fever. 
It is worthy of remark, that this foul air exerts.no se ithisibe 
over the sone which ramble night and day over the Campagna di 
Roma. This would seem to justify the idea that it pénetrates b 
the pores of the skin, since these animals are defended by their hair 
or their wool, and hence we perceive a new proof that the best means 
which the ancient inhabitants of Latium, employed as a defense 
against this pernicious atmosphere, before an excellent state of culti- 
vation had weakened its effects, was precisely the same kind of wool- 
en clothing ; so that the dress of the present age is very ill adapted 
fo acountry where an insalubrious atmosphere constantly prevails, 
Vou. XXII.—No. 2. 44. 
