ON TIIE MEDICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF SINGAPORE, 
489 
In conclusion, I must say that in my opinion no inference can' 
be better proved than this, that, the presence of sulphuretted hydro¬ 
gen does yiot create fever, nor is it the active principle of ma¬ 
laria. 
The proofs being so strong against any of the known gaseous pro¬ 
ducts being the active principle of malaria, I think that unless we 
remain satisfied with a name we must examine further. When ani¬ 
mals and vegetables terminate their temporary existence, they on¬ 
ly cease to exist as individuals, being resolved into more simple forms, 
until we approach a certain animalcular state of life, beyond which 
our observation terminates, and perhaps the vitality of the substance 
likewise ; the ultimate products ,of animal and vegetable decay are 
carbonic acid, water, and ammonia, which contain the elements ne¬ 
cessary for the support of animals, and vegetables, “ all the innume¬ 
rable products of vitality resume, after death, the original form from 
which they sprung. Thus the destruction of one existing generation 
becomes the means for the production of a new one, and death be¬ 
comes the source of life” (Liebig). All the observations hitherto 
made upon contagious matters prove, that they also arc substances 
in a state of decomposition. When vessels filled with ice are placed 
in air impregnated with gaseous contagious matter, their outer sur¬ 
faces become covered with water containing a certain quantity of 
this matter in solution. This water soon becomes turbid, and in 
common language putrifies, or, to describe the change more correctly 
the process of decomposition of the dissolved contagious matter is 
completed in the water,” (Liebig). This is the state in advance of 
the ultimate products, for on adding a solution of corrosive submliate 
to the mixture condensed by the ice in the manner just described, a 
white precipitate is produced just as a solution of ammonia does. 
This is the gaseous product which is the active principle of ma¬ 
laria, and which, when evolved from a diseased body and capable of 
reproduction, is called contagion , and from ammonia being elicited 
from this contagious matter, as well as being the last product of ani¬ 
mal life, I would infer that this gaseous body is the last of animal or 
vegetable products, possessed of vitality and in the state of germ. 
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