FARMERS' REGISTER— THE ROMAN MALARIA. 



657 



When land is deepened and pulverized, and im- 

 proved by means of lime and other manures, it 

 absorbs the rain more quickly, and in (greater 

 abundance than its uncultivated state. Hence less 

 moisture will arise in evaporation. 



Increased vegetation also, diminishes evapora- 

 tion, for water is absorbed in considerable quanti- 

 ties by the plants themselves ; and in proportion 

 to their luxuriance, they not only diminish the 

 reflection of the sun's rays, but keep the air cooler 

 and more temperate, during the heats of summer 

 and autumn. A much greater quantity of water 

 also, is discharged into the atmosphere, by spouty 

 land, producing aquatic herbs, and coarse herbage, 

 than where plants of a finer quality arc grown ; 

 and it is a niost curious and important circum- 

 stance, that while the air immediately above a wet 

 .soil, was only 57° of Falirenheit, the temperature 

 of the dry part of the same field, and of a similar 

 soil, was consideral)ly higher.* 



It is likewise well known, that water contains 

 both pure air, which is essential tor the human 

 species, and inflammable o/r, which is of such im- 

 portance as the food of plants. By increasing 

 vegetation therefore, that inflammable air, which 

 is injurious to animals, is absorbed in greater quan- 

 tities, while much more pure or vital air is produ- 

 ced. 



The cultivation of the ground, is thus of essential 

 importance, in regard to this important particular, 

 for it contributes, not only to put an end to the 

 malaria which is the cause of agues, and other 

 febrile diseases, but produces a state of tlie atmos- 

 phere, which is favorable to the promotion of 

 health. 



In commencing the cultivation of marsliy land, 

 it is an excellent plan, to get rid of the surface ol 

 the soil, either by paring ploughs, or by liand in- 

 struments invented for tiiat special purpose, aii</ to 

 burn it. If the ashes were tlien spread on the 

 ground, a crop of wholesome vegetables might be 

 raised, which would probably derive some nour- 

 ishment, from those very exhalations, if any 

 should arise, which, though hostile to animal, are 

 favorable to vegetable life. It is astonishing, that 

 so simple a process as that of paring and burning 

 the surface, so well known in various parts of these 

 kingdoms, and the efficacy of which can hardly be 

 questioned, should never have occurred, either to 

 those who reside in districts subject to tiie malaria, 

 where it might be employed witii advantage; or 

 to any of the natives of this country, who have 

 visited every part of Italy in the course of their 

 travels. 



3. Calcareous 3fanures. — In marshy soils, the 

 use of calcareous manures is of the highest impor- 

 tance and could be procured without much expense, 

 as lime can be found, in the Roman territory, in the 

 neighborhood of those very marshes, and coal could 

 easily be got by sea to burn it, if a suflicient quan- 

 tity of wood or turf could not lie obtained for that 

 purpose. The effect of" liurnt lime-stone, in im- 

 proving the quality of the soil, is hardly to be 

 credited. It either absorbs any noxious matter, 

 or annihilates any deleterious properties it possesses ; 

 and it m,ay be relied upon as an established fact, 

 " That a soil full of calcareous matter, never pro- 

 duces an unwholesome atmosphere. 



4. Embankments. — Much flat and rich land is 

 apt to be overflown during the rainy seasons of the 

 year, which at other periods are perfectly dry ; and 

 such land, when loaded with moisture, must neces- 

 sarily be favorable to the production of miasma. 

 The only mode of preventing such a calamity is, 

 by means of embankments, then bringing the 

 land under cultivation, and manuring it abundant- 

 ly with calcareous matter. For gettnig off the 

 water, where embankments are not found to be a 

 sufficient protection, mills may be necessary, in 

 particular windmill-pumps, which are in perpetual 

 motion, without requiring much attendance. 



5. IVholcsovie tVater. — The pre.servation of 

 health may be promoted in marshy districts, by 

 procuring wholesome wafer to drink. This is an 

 object however, to which little attention is in gene- 

 ral paid in marsliy districts, from the supposed im- 

 practicability of obtaining good water. Any 

 difficulty of that description however, is now com- 

 pletely obviated, by the improved modes of digging 

 wells practised in England, in consequence of 

 which, water may any where be procured in the 

 greatest perfection, and at a moderate expense. Of 

 the important effects resulting from the use of good 

 water, there is a celebrated instance in the parish 

 of Steeple in Essex. A well was dug about 500 

 feet deep, by means of which, excellent water was 

 procured; and by using it, the health of the inha- 

 bitants became so much improved, that they found 

 little occasion for the skill of^ their apothecary, who, 

 previously to that discovery, had derived great 

 emolument in consequence of the insalubrity of 

 the neighborhood.* When once obtained, water 

 may be sent to a considerable distance, in pipes, at 

 a moderate expense. 



G. Another mode of improving the atmosphere 

 of a country is, by tliinning tlie woods, where they 

 are so close as to be impervious to atmospheric 

 influence; and in particular, as a means of melio- 

 rating the air, all brush and underwood should be 

 extirpated. It can hardly be doubled, that every 

 thing which retains too large a quantity of unne- 

 cessary moisture on the surfiice, must be prejudi- 

 cial to the inhabitamfs in its neighborhood; and 

 this must be the case, where the woods are so thick, 

 that both sunshine and wind are excluded. At 

 the same time, the protection of groves where the 

 frees are not too close to each other, and where the 

 soil is dry, has been found of use. 



7. Clothing. — Among the means by which the 

 pernicious influence of a damp climate, and of a 

 moist soil, is likely to be counteracted, the wear- 

 ing of flannel next the skin has been particularly 

 recommended. Various diseases are occasioned 

 iiy obstructed perspiration on the surface of the 

 body, and nothing but flannel will preserve this 

 important discharge uniform, in a climate which is 

 subjected to fogs and vapors, produced by water 

 stagnating on the surface of the ground.f In a 

 work published by an intelligent Italian author. 



* See the experiment mentioned in the Middlesex 

 Report, p. 288. 



* An apothecary at Walden, in Essex, declared, that 

 die inhabitants of that pari.sh, after the well had been 

 dug, and good water obtained, became so much improved 

 in health, that instead of receiving from many farmers 

 in the district, from 20i. to 30/. and even 40 aryear, 

 he scarcely got, from his former patients, as many .shib 

 lings per annum. See Code of Health, first edition, vol, 

 ii. Appendix, }i. 215. 



t Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xi. p. 234. 



