?05 
DR. LITTLE’S CORAL THEORY. 
circumstances, capable of infhiencing the human body and 
producing fever; but this so far -being a general rule, must be 
subject to the largest deductions, for experience proves that for 
every inch of animal decomposition on coral reefs which causes 
fever, there is a hundred miles of coral reef exposed at low water, 
which has not that effect. 
No theory of general application can be maintained on 
investigations on so small a scale,* and according to Dr Little’s 
own researches it requires not only a coral reef exposed at low 
water, but a confined situation, with stagnant air, and all the 
effects of heat and atmospheric moisture.f 
Would not any other reef under similar circumstances produce 
fever, if loaded with decomposing animal matter? “While almost 
every tide washed reck in the world is carpetted with fuci and 
supports some coralines, actonise and molusea”t would not an 
exposed reef of 1J miles affect the health of people living (it may 
be said) upon it ? “ Whilst there are innumerable forms (of 
animal life) in the seas of the warmer zones,” is it on coral reefs 
alone that putrescent animal matter is collected ? 
The effluvia emitted from a decomposing bullock’s carcase 
placed in a gentleman’s bed-chamber, would in all probability 
cause fever not only to himself and his spouse, but to the family 
in general, but should we be warranted from such a fact in 
maintaining that decomposing bullocks caused fever, and should 
we not in preference refer to the established truth that under 
particular circumstances of situation, and climate, fever is 
engendered by the proximity of decomposing animal matter! 
Does not this apply exactly to the coral reefs in the 
neighbourhood of Sikang, Ayer Bandera and one or two other 
small villages near Singapore ? Whilst we fully and freely allow 
that the miasm generated from the decomposition of animal 
substances, is capable of causing fever under given circumstances, 
w t 6 must at the same time admit that this general law is not 
peculiarly or strikingly applicable to coral reefs exposed at low 
water. 
When we reflect on the effects which atmospheric changes may 
produce on the human frame—on the powers of the subtle electrical 
fluid—on the imperceptible exudation of noxious mephitic vapours 
from the ground—and the obscurity which envelops the causation 
croscope, supports the principle of vegetable cells belonging to the lowest forms 
of vegetable life in the process of fermentation and decomposition. Diseases may- 
result from vegetable or organic germs, or they may have an intimate connexion 
with disease, without causing it. The microscope can only prove the existence of 
these “ vegetable or organic germs.” 
* At Ayer Bandera are two families, at Sikang 30 persons &c. Dr Little finds 
intermittent fever on almost every island and in every small village, with, or with¬ 
out coral, and this fact of prevalent intermittent which is adduced as proof of the 
theory at PuloTingy, is not considered to contradict it at Sikra ! 
t See September number 1848 p. 592. 
X Lyell 
