THE HOME PHYSICIAN. 



Preventives of Malaria — Scarcely a section of our beautiful country 

 ia free from malarial disease iu some of its forma. Many localities formerly 

 free from malaria have recently been visited by this insidious foe of 

 humanity. Two reasons are given for this result: First, the ponds 

 and swamps have been dried up, and the lower forms of organic matter 

 have been exposed to the air, and aecoud, wells and springs have become so 

 low that the water is very impure, and no doubt its use produces an un- 

 healthy state of the human body. 



If the uso of impure water alone were the cause of malarial difficulties 

 the remedy would be simple, namely, to substitute pure water instead, if it 

 could be had, or by filtration and other means, purify what was at hand. 



The maJarial iniluence arising from swamps or marshes can be only 

 counteracted by jerating the soil and thus getting rid of the lower organisms 

 resident there. By means of di-ainage the sour soil water is carried off, the 

 air enters and decay is completed — the poison is destroyed and a moi-e 

 healthful condition ensxies. 



But there are vast stretches of country where these means cannot be em- 

 ployed, and other methods must be provided. It is now pretty well proven 

 by actual plantings in Califoi-nia of the blue gum tree, or Eucalyj^tus of 

 Australia, that by its use over a sufficient area the malarial tendencies can 

 be counteracted. Unfortunately, by actual test, we find that the Eucalyptus 

 Glohnsa will not endure the cold of this section of the Union. 



What then can we employ? Professor Maury, before our late intemeciuo 

 war, proved at the Washington Observatory that extensive plantations of tho 

 common sunflower will, during its growing season, counteract malaria. 

 These can be grown all over our States, and should be extensively tried. 



The common willow, being a coarse feeder and rapid grower, revelling in 

 wet and swampy land, has also been commended as one of the very best 

 agents for the destruction of malarial germs. Its roots spread widely 

 through the soil, while its leafage is simply enormous in proportion to its 

 woody development. The three sorts of willow grow with great rapidity, 

 but more immediate effects may be produced by planting sprouts of the 

 osier or basket willow thickly all over the whole of a wet or swampy surface 

 soil. 



This would be a romtincrativo product aside from its destruction of 

 malaria. The plan is worthy of trial. 



Pneumonia — It will be remembered that in old age the lungs are much 

 shriveled, less elastic, and can not be fully inflated; the air cells are dilated 

 to about twice their size, many of the capillaries are oliliteratcd, the breath- 

 ing is more feeble and shallow, and the power to get rid of carbonic acid is 

 greatly diminished. 



Hence pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) is not only one of the most 

 eommou diseasoe of old age, but the most fatal- over three-fourths (some 



