Italian Malaria. 341 
The learned Moscati thinks he has discovered that the basis of the 
foul air which causes these pestilential fevers, is an aqueous humor 
which contains an animal mucus in which the venom resides. Broc- 
chi has made some experiments upon the nature of Malaria. He 
selected for this purpose the country which surrounds the basilica of 
St. Laurent, without the walls, one of the most unhealthy of Rome, 
and continued his labors during several successive nights. A robust 
young man, whom he took for his assistant, slept severalehours du- 
ring the first night, and.was seized the following morning with an in- 
termittent fever, which he retained for several weeks. Brocchi con- 
densed, in various ways, the air which he had collected; and obtained 
im every case, a notable quantity of putrid water. 
It remains for us to say a few words on the manner in which this 
foul air acts upon the animal organization. With respect to the mode 
by which it penetrates our bodies, Brocchi has several reasons for 
thinking that it penetrates rather by the pores of the skin than’ by 
respiration. When once the noxious particles are introduced into 
our organs they combine with the humors; the general organization, 
or more properly the force which tends to preserve it in its integrity, 
opposes this combination, and from this results the fever. 
It is worthy of remark, that this foul air exerts no evil influence 
over the flocks which ramble night and day over the Campagna di 
Roma. This would seem to justify the idea that it penetrates by 
the pores of the skin, since these animals are defended by their hair 
or their wool, and hence we perceive a new proof that the best means 
which the ancient inhabitants of Latium, employed as a, defense 
_ against this pernicious atmosphere, before an excellent state of culti- 
vation had weakened its effects, was precisely the same kind of wool- 
en clothing; so that the dress of the present age is very ill adapted 
to acountry where an insalubrious atmosphere constantly prevails, 
Worn eX 11.—No- 2: 44 
