1847.] Marshes. 283 



and to be in them a formidable disease. The benefit derived from 

 lime leads to a suspicion of the presence of the oxalic acid. The 

 Schoharie people are cured by lime, and this probably acts by 

 neutralizing the acid of sugar, and checking that morbid action 

 of the vessels which favors the saccharine secretion in men. 

 Now, from the known stronger attraction of lime for oxalic acid 

 than ammoniac or other alkalies possess, is there not a good rea- 

 son for preferring it? I wish you w'ould mention it to Dr. Rollo. 

 The fact now related is connected with another still more im- 

 portant. The part of the country alluded to is underlaid with 

 limestone and calcareous marl, and is remarkable for its freedom 

 from epidemic, intermittent, malignant and pestilential fevers. 

 This appears to be the case in Tennessee, Kentucky, and all our 

 western country, where lime constitutes extensive strata. These 

 disorders, when they break out, happen sporadically, from an im- 

 proper state of the alimentary canal, bad management about the 

 house, or some such cause. But the universal spread of such dis- 

 tempers among the people is prevented by the lime, which at- 

 tracts and neutralizes the septic and pestilential vapors, turning 

 with them to calcareous nitre, fertilizing the soil, and rendering 

 the settlements there friendly at once to animal and vegetable life. 

 The lime with which the water is charged, has, when drank, a 

 like operation on the contents of the stomach and bowels. 



MARSHES, AND THEIR EFFECTS UPON HUMAN HEALTH. 



It is well known that the effect of marshes on health is great 

 and decided. In districts which abound in them, the inhabitants 

 suffer not only from intermitting fevers, but from rheumatism and 

 its kindred diseases. Their influences are not of that insidious 

 character which some suppose, or at least the effects are always 

 evident in the countenance and frame of the individuals. Ema- 

 ciation, enlarged abdomen, feebleness, are some of the general 

 effects which manifest themselves in persons who claim to enjoy 

 health. But it is not necessary that these wet and marshy ground 

 should he extensive in order to exhibit a deleterious influence up- 

 on health; even ditches, stagnant pools, motionless water, each 

 exhale matters which change healthy to unhealthy actions of the 

 system. Puddles and pools, drains and sewers, operate most in- 

 juriously, and contain poisonous elements which are exhaling so 

 long as a particle remains to moisten the surface. Our country 

 abounds in marshes. Some places which are now healthy and 



