706 
DR. LITTLE’S CORAL THEORY. 
of febrile disease, and endemic and epidemic influences, we are 
justified in hesitating before we admit an hypothesis which, 
generally applicable, would inflict a cureless scourge on mankind, 
and render a third of the globe uninhabitable. I cannot agree 
with Mr Earl in wishing success to the author of this theory, 
with all its inevitable consequences, and should it be established, 
I should receive the truth with fear and perplexity. 
I must sum up therefore by saying 
1st. That coral reefs—as coral reefs have no influence on health. 
2nd. That animal decomposition under peculiar circumstances 
can cause fever, occurring on Coral reefs or elsewhere. 
3rd. That Dr Little’s personal observations are on too minute a 
scale to establish a theory generally, or even partially applicable, to 
. an extended space. 
4th. That the examples brought forward to support this theory 
are either erroneous or valueless. 
5th. That the fever caused by the effluvia of animal decomposi¬ 
tion is distinct, and not “ identical” with the fever produced by 
marsh miasm,—and 
6th. That the theory under consideration, so far from being new, 
is but the reassertion of an established truth ; viz, that in confined 
situations, especially in hot and moist climates, the effluvia of decom¬ 
posing animal substances, will cause adynamic fever. 
Although disagreeing with Dr Little in the doctrines set forth 
in his present series of articles in your journal, I applaud his investi¬ 
gations, and the boldness with which he has laid them before the 
profession and the public, and if in gentlest courtesy I have ventur¬ 
ed to touch his shield, he will, I am confident, attribute it to its true 
motive, the love of truth. 
* LyeU. 
B 18 
