292 CALCAREOUS MANURES— APPENDIX. 



main. It is true that other causes, political and economical, have concurred 

 to produce this result. But the most potent of the several causes was the 

 slow and silent, but continual and increasing warfare on the health of body 

 and mind, made by the action of malaria. By its operation, when scarcely 

 amounting in effect to positive and known disease, the mind is sickened 

 even more than the body. The buoyant spirits are tamed — energy is re- 

 laxed — the keen appetite for enjoyment (which is the greater part of hap- 

 piness) is lost; and the victims of malaria cease to strive, or to enjoy; and 

 either sink into apathy and listlessness, or, urged by discontent, more than 

 by any remains of energy, take the final step of emigration to the western 

 wilderness. 



But the upper country furnishes still stronger evidence, because of posi- 

 tive and unquestionable facts, to prove an increase of the product and effect 

 of malaria. The hilly country between the falls of the rivers and the 

 nearest mountain-range, with the exception of some comparatively small 

 spots, on swamps and rivers, was formerly as free from this scourge as is 

 now the mountain region. But the number and the extent of the unhealthy 

 places have greatly increased within the memory of those now living ; and 

 sonje large districts have been, in particular seasons, as subject to bilious dis- 

 eases, and still more to violent ones, than the tide-water region. Indeed, in 

 very many places, universally believed (unless by the mill-owners' to be in- 

 juriously affected by the neighborhood of mill-ponds, these effects of malaria 

 are of as regular recurrence in autumn, as on places near to any of the 

 marshes of the low country; and are much more dangerous. 



The third and highest region seems destined, notwithstanding its better 

 defence in mountain sides and peaks, and the rarity of flat surface on which 

 to form wide and shallow ponds, to take its turn next, as the victim of ma- 

 laria. Already, in that part of the mountain region in and about Frederick 

 county, there have been particular autumns which seemed almost pestilen- 

 tial. And though such cases of general and virulent disease are rare, 

 particular cases of autumnal diseases are now frequent in many such places 

 where they were rarely heard of thirty years ago. 



These statements may be considered by some as exaggerated.or unfound- 

 ed—and, by others, if admitted to be true, considered as showing the want 

 of both patriotism and policy, in the writer's thus exposing the enormous 

 existing and still growing evils under which the country suffers. In regard 

 to the former point, I admit, in advance, the scarcity of particular and posi- 

 tive facts, to serve as proofs, which is found throughout the whole subject ; 

 and that among the existing difficulties of obtaining such facts, (and still 

 more by a single and unaided individual, who has had little opportunity to 

 make proper researches, 1 I have to rely mostly upon general and loose 

 opinions, and deductions from general facts. Hence there is much liabihty 

 of mistake. But if the public can in any w^ay be driven to the examination 

 of this subject, and numerous individuals be excited to search for facts, 

 whether to sustain or to oppose my views, the arrangement and presentation 

 of such facts will serve as materials, which are now almost totally wanting, 

 and will enable this all-important question to be hereafter properly discussed 

 and correctly determined. 



If there were no hope for relief, there wouid certainly be no use in ex- 

 posing or dwelling upon these distresses of our people. But, though no- 

 thing yet has been done for relief, nor does it seem to have entered the 

 imagination of our legislators, and though all they have yet done has been 

 to add strength to the evil, still it is my confident opinion, that relief may 

 be furnished for this sorest evil of the land, and furnished easily and pro- 

 fitably ; and that it is perfectly within the power of man to dry up the most 



