CHAPTER IV. 

 DISEASES CAUSED BY H^MOSPORIDIA IN MAN. 



MALARIA. 



(Synonyms : Ague Fever, Marsh Fever, Paludism, 

 Intermittent Fever, &c.) 



MALARIA is the general term applied to the diseases 

 caused by the human haemosporidia commonly known 

 as the parasites of malaria. There are three main clinical 

 types due respectively to the three species of parasites : 

 Benign Tertian (P. vivax) ; Quartan (P. malarice) ; and 

 Subtertian, or malignant tertian, usually irregularly remit- 

 tent or intermittent (P. fakiparuni). The prominent 

 symptoms are those of febrile disturbance ; the fever 

 may be regularly periodic, irregularly intermittent, or 

 remittent and followed by a variable degree of anaemia. 

 Later visceral changes, especially enlargement of the 

 spleen, and pigmentation of the spleen and liver, may 

 occur. The febrile symptoms yield readily to treatment 

 by quinine. 



The parasites are conveyed from man to man by 

 various species of mosquitoes, belonging to the sub- 

 family Anophelina. There are at least three species of 

 parasites and the symptoms differ according to the species 

 of the parasite with which the patient is infected. 



Geographical Distribution. Malaria occurs in most 

 tropical and subtropical countries, with the exception 

 of certain groups of islands, such as the Seychelles in 

 the Indian Ocean, Fiji, the Society and Friendly Islands 

 in the South Pacific, Barbados and St. Helena in the 

 Atlantic Ocean. In temperate regions the distribution 

 is more irregular, and is frequently limited to low-lying 



