47S ON THE MEDICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF SINGAPORE. 
mate ? The almost unvaried alternations of land and sea breezes 
concur in a tendency to disperse any venomous exhalations that 
emanate from the decomposing matter; and in contemplating this 
anomaly of marshy ground, luxuriant vegetation, and high tempera¬ 
ture, with an absolute immunity from various febrile disease, the ad- 
r 
mission is almost forced upon us, that this agency is not wholly in¬ 
operative, yet it never could be conceded that this of itself is suffici - 
ent to account for the absence of Malaria; stagnation of the atmos¬ 
phere certainly takes place, and time is doubtless allowed for the 
concentration of any malignant product of the soil if they really ex¬ 
isted, whilst it is evident that ventilation in other situations where 
various effluvia are known to be generated, affords little security 
against their efforts. That the settlers at Singapore have never ex¬ 
perienced the baneful influence of febrific miasma, is to be attribut¬ 
ed, it would seem to its absolute non-existance, and not to the salu¬ 
tary operation of any agents rendering a Pestilential atmosphere in- 
noccious.”—(Indian Journal April 1st. 1839.) 
In Dr. McCulloch's work on Malaria in reference to Singapore 
he says, c< but there is one mystery for which I can conjecture no so¬ 
lution, while it rests on great authorities, and while every imaginable 
circumstance is present that ought to render the land io question one 
of the most pestiferous spots under the sun. It is a collection of 
jungles, woods, marshes, rivers, and sea swamps; and it is a flat and 
under a tropical sun, and it is the land of monsoons; and yet is a 
land where fever is unknown; and this land is our new settlement 
of Singapore. I dare not attempt to contradict such testimony, and 
must try to believe what I cannot understand, but others may for 
aught I know be inclined to suppose that some favouritism not per¬ 
haps inexplicable has dictated this report.” 
From these quotations, the reader will without doubt have embra¬ 
ced the idea that Singapore is a spot free from febrile influences, 
though in examining the preceding table of Febrile Diseases, that 
belief may be shaken on a superficial view: but to look deeper 
and properly understand that table, in the first place it is necessary 
to explain that the inmates of the European Hospital are derived 
