THE PROBLEM OF MALARIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1923, Page 4

THE PROBLEM OF MALARIA.

<g» ill the history of medicine there have hoim many epoch-making; discoveries. Simp-oti. with liis chloroform, Pasteur with hi' bacteriological researches, Lister with liis aiHi-s.eutic surgery. Kocli witli liis investigations of tubercular disease, and many another have laid humanity under an incalculable debt. 13 11 1 perhaps no achievement in this held Inis had more tar-reniliing consequence.--than the identification of the lenialo anopheles mosquito as the carrier ol the i malaria parasite by Sir Ronald Ross, I whose ''.Memoirs" descrihe his laborious | hut successful cudeavoiir- to delect tin- j culprit. .Malaria has been one of tliej greatest enemies that civilisation has i ever known. There is some reason to ! l.'clieve that malaria, introduced pos- j sibly from tile swamps ol the I ijii'is and j Kuphratcs bv the (.reek armies, was! responsible for the swift and sudden de- j I erioration of the ancient (■reeks. There is no doubt whatever that it was a factor in the degeneration of the! Romans. As Sir Ronald iloss points j mil, ii has "prohahlv done m ire than , anything el-r to prevent the -otllemonl of the vast ironical areas which would j ot herwisc he most suitable for the ! human rare." Ihanks to its ravages,] I’qualmial Alrica and ('eiiiral America , wore for loo:.; known a. "the while man'- gl a ve." 11 delayed the roll- , st run ion ol ihr Panama ( anal lor hall i a i nil ury. !u India, even in Veal • j when ii wits not especially prevalent. there Were a|i|.loMlii.il 1 ' 1 > I . t( t. f e' 1 j drill 1 1 s from I lib di ra-o. I o Imi eli- i males, the author tells Us, one person j in every three i. rUbeied by ii each: year. And Sir Ronald Ro-s has shown how malaria, the cause ol so mmo suffering and loss, can hr eliminalrd with absolute certainty. It is little wonder that in Ib'.’l'-' he wits awarded llm No’ad I’rt/'.e as a heneiaetor who had rendered signal service to mankind. If he had net been attracted by medicine. Sir Ronald Russ must have made his mark in some other walk ol lile. He i- a man ol catholic interests. .Mathematicians lament the defection of a potential leader, lie is a port and a composer of no little merit. Rut iurtunaioly medicine claimed him for her own. lie was horn In l*-". passed out of "Paris" in I>S I. and ’mined the Indian medieid service. S. me years after lie heard of tile di-roi. ry ol Lnvei'iin. a. |.'reneii seientisl, who said that he had arUinilv found the malaria para-ite in the human hlnod. For a lime the auj i hoi- was sceptical ; his own exprrimcnls I failed io pro'lm ■ l.averan’ ■ result s. ' Mm n liile in London he met Sir Pat riel; | Malison, wlm convinced him the; the | i’letielimnn was right, and stir Ronald ] Iks, I'ianl:!v acknowledges Ins own ! error. Sir Pat rich also advanced ihe j i pinion i ha; mn.-quno. - earrv malaria, j iust il,ei earrv iilariae. It wa • leli | I,.i* Sir U oiald it*iso Pi e-tahiisii the i will, perplexities. There are many i\ a riel n-s ~! nm.-aui to. who are Ihe hosts of many kind' oi para-iies. He had to liiul tin- tight n ra-ite to the li-J.1,1 '!1 t*. ‘ i Vil I .' in* «' r’,'* ‘n L 51 verv ddlieiih jil'ohlem indeed. ' he rile-, "an collation e.u.te'ton two unknown queiil il ie..." from the nut horn ie-. who. in tael, went out ol lie ir way Lo Imtuper him. St.'ll. j lie toiled on. and In- itinu pli tame in j I>’! A at Seeiinderabad in tie.' middle ol I a .tilling slimmer. lie dal alum i the punka to In- u-.-d a ■ lie worked, hcj (tills,, ii blew about Li- d> 'eel I urnsI quit ties. Swarms of inseel s seltli I to j |',W and eatand tovmeuti I him ! .ipo ; pivi;i ii ■-i o’! IlllM *** 1' j ill ’ •!< it 1 ) n ii- IririidTi.c mu’Wk ol ' ids mi-- reseope were rusted w ilh tlm ip r- id: at i. n from Ids ha ml. a'! i:e i Tim one remaining < ye-pieee wa - erat k- | (••!, Ho .Mimiiied Milium, rahi-' tnos- ] qu;toes. : in: mi • ia. h m"U, n l,\ , pan i.t a milhm.’ti '. Ru l till hm ■ quarry eiilded him. At le'igl b bi- eoli lei tors brought him st me larvae of a different ; e" ot mosquito, the auoOO . !■ Nodi'. "oof., oil OS. ol the ■a;■ !i is mail., d. The di--o uo". wa s r:o client, ami I imit .at- :„il\ t hrot ,;h ] ihe I:■ ■ n now -o familiar t o me, ! > f *:•. ft 1 1 i li'L f\v-ry hin n*:i with f!: * * I passion and care a < .'tie would --eareii s m-e v.t't ruined leilio t' lor a lit tie llidileti I feast.re. Not kilt" . No, .i. ■- .■ a todore ; il.ere was something u roug v. ii il Iho I lie tv. i ill l lhe - ii-maeii t: - lying there, empty and lia 'i.l. heinra me on tlm glass stick, a great addle expatts-- of tc!i- Ii!m■ a large courtyard of ilagstoues, t-arli one of v. liiell ia:i-! ?.<• si rut i uis.ed !-.<i! 1’ a n hour’- laliottr a I n-o;-' ! must hare examined the tins time. Put the a igol of fat a fortunately laid his hard ru my head, ait 1 I had starcely commenced tie. "eh W I ell I ill a idea r am! aim." I I - It. was i lie ildite 1'■ a i he song l I ' well known that it requires n . te.'.tptluhition. At ihe l.iv ri'.i.el School ot Tropical .Medicine he lots done invaluable wot!, in developing lie- principles ol preventive medicine. Thanks lo these the Such (anal e.ctm has been Panama ('anal supplies the m. -( spectamla i illustration ... wltai out (".• aeeenijtl isbi :l by their application. If, ll the condition preeid nl of Itie-e aml similar at Inevemenl-- wa - tlm di-eovery on i hat memorable Angus! fid. I-O.t. which. immediately alu rival',!-. Su Ronald Ro-s re!ebnle..l wiili tills ling-

iii". paean : This dnv I. li'lllill j (""1 lfntli plnncil within nt.v h.md A wi'ti'lrou tiiii’.::; and He praised. Ai In- <iiin:is:i n-'l S-eking his secret tired - V.'ith tears and luiline hi\:ilh I liti. l thy enn ni mi.: ; -ed -. O million tiinr lfii’tr; Ocatli! I kiiniv tin’.' lilt!" 1 1 1 i• i:r A niyri-.nl tin n will saw. <) nonth. iv he it- i~ thy n in:-. :• Titv vic'orv. () (jrave?