1865.] On the Boksas of Bijnour. 167 



In a proverbiably malarious district like that inhabited by 

 these people, one might have been prepared to find the "Spleen- 

 test," of some importance, and I was somewhat surprised to dis- 

 cover that in not one of the numerous adults examined, was the 

 spleen notably enlarged. Indeed most of them had never heard of 

 such a thing as pilot, while those who had, generally attributed their 

 freedom from it to — as usual the githi and alcohol they consume. 

 The percentage of enlarged spleens among the inhabitants of a district, 

 as a test of the intensity of malaria in it. was first proposed by Dr. 

 Dempster, when on the " Canal Committee" in 1847, and, since that 

 time, it has been held as a dogma by probably the bulk of the profes- 

 sion in India, that a large number of " ague cakes" shew increased 

 malarious activity in a district, while a blank return as to enlarged 

 spleens would indicate absence or weakness of the miasm. Indeed, a 

 report is on record, by a member of our service, who, when acting on a 

 committee appointed to select a sanatarium, having in the course 

 of a few minutes examined some of the residents of the village, 

 and found few or no enlarged spleens, immediately pronounced the 

 site " free from fever influences." But the almost total absence of 

 spleen affection among this tribe, who inhabit from year to year, and all 

 the year long, a tract where all the elements generally considered 

 necessary, for the development of malaria are in full perfection for 

 several months each season, and where it is but too certain that the 

 miasm itself exists in the greatest activity at that time, — would induce 

 us to believe, that there is still some datum to be discovered ere the 

 " spleen-test" theoiy can be formalized. 



Nor are we by any means at the bottom of the question 

 of acclimatization so-called, in regard to a case apparently so 

 simple as that of the Boksa living in comparative health throughout 

 the year, in a tract twenty-four hours of many parts of which, at 

 certain seasons, would be deadly to the newcomer. The Boksas' 

 comparative immunity from malarious fevers has frequently been 

 attributed especially to two causes ; 1st, their not going out of doors 

 after sunset in the fever-season, and 2nd, their houses being raised on 

 poles at that time. Unfortunately, among our Boksas, neither of these 

 habits has any existence, — houses on poles are unknown, and although 

 in the rains, the Boksas naturally are not inclined to go out after dark 



