The fact is so glaring, and so universally admitted, that I am
really at a loss how to select evidence to show that there is no acclimation
against the endemic fevers of our rural districts. Is it not
the constant theme of the population of the South, how they can
preserve health? and do not all prudent persons, who can afford to
do so, remove in the summer to some salubrious locality, in the
pme-lands or the mountains? Those of the tenth generation are
just as solicitous on the subject as those of the first. Books written
at the North talk much about acclimation at the South ; but we here
never hear it alluded to out of the yellow-fever cities. On the contrary,
we know that those who live from generation to génération in
malarial districts become thoroughly poisoned, and exhibit the
thousand Protean forms of disease which spring from this insidious
poison.
I have been the examining physician to several life-insurance
companies for many years, and one of the questions now asked in
many^ of the policies is, “ Is the party acclimated?” If the subject
lives m one of our southern seaports, where yellow fever prevails
and has been born and reared there, or has had an attack of yellow
fever, I answer, “ Yes.” If, on the other hand, he lives in the country,
1 answer, “No;” because there is no acclimation against intermittent
and bilious fever, and other marsh diseases. How, I ask if
there is an experienced and .observing physician at the South who
will answer differently? An attack of yellow fever does not protect
against marsn iev6rs, nor vice versd.
The acclimation of negroes, even, according to my observation
has been put m too strong a light. Being originally natives of hot
climates, they require no acclimation to temperature, are less liable
to the more inflammatory forms of malarial fevers, and suffer infinitely
less than whites from yellow fever : they never, however, as
far as my observation extends, become proof against intermittents
and their sequelæ. The cotton planters throughout the South will
bear witness that, wherever the whites are attacked with intermittents,
the blacks are also susceptible, though not in so great a
degree My observations apply to the region of country removed
from the nee country. We shall see, further on, that the negroes
of the rice-field region do undergo a higher degree of acclimation
than those of the folly lands of the interior. ' I know many planta-
tions in the interior of Alabama, South 'Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
and Louisiana, on which negroes of the second and third
generation continue to suffer from thesfe malarial diseases, and where
gangs of negroes do not increase.
Dr. Samuel Borry, in his valuable work on the climate of the
United States, has investigated fully the influence of our southern
climates on our population, and uses the following decided language
in relation to the whites :
“ In these localities, as is often observed in the tide-water region of our Southern States,
the human frame is weakly constituted, or imperfectly developed: the mortality among
' children 18 very Sreat’ alld the duration of life is comparatively short. Along the
frontiers of Florida and the southern borders of'Georgia, as witnessed by the author, as
weE as m the low lands of the Southern States-generally, may be seen deplorable examples
of the physical, and perhaps mental, deterioration induced by endemic influences. In
earliest infancy, the complexion becomes sallow, and the eye assumes a biflous tint-
advancing towards the years of maturity, the growth is arrested, the limbs become atte-
nuated, the viscera engorged, &c.” P. 365.
But, leaving our own country, let us look abroad and see what the
history of other natiohs teaches.
The best-authenticated examples, perhaps, anywhere to be found
on record, of the enduring influence of marsh malaria on a race, are
in the Campagna, Maremma, Pontines, and other insalubrious localities
in classic Italy. The following account is given by Dr. James
Johnson, m his work on Change of A ir; and every traveller through
Italy can vouch for its fidelity:
“ It is from the mountain of Viterbo that we have the first glimpse of the wide-spread
Campagna di Roma. The beautiful little lake of Vico lies under our feet, its sloping banks
cultivated like a garden, but destitute of habitations, on account of the deadly malaria
which no culture can annihilate, from this spot, till we reach the desert, the features of
poverty and wretchedness in the inhabitants themselves, as well as in everything around
them, grow rapidly more marked. We descend from Monti Rose upon the Campagna, and
at Baccano, we are in the midst of it.”
After describing the beauty of the scenery, and its luxuriant
vegetation, he continues:
| But no human form meets the eye, except the gaunt figure of the herdsman, muffle
up to the chin in his dark mantle, with his gun and his spear; his broad hat slouched over ‘
the ferocious and scowling countenance of a brigand: the buffalo which he guards is less
repugnant than he. As for the. shepherd, Arcadia forbid that I should attempt his description!
The savage of the wigwam has health to recommend him. As we approach within
ten miles of Rome, some specks of cultivation appear, and with them the dire effects of
malaria on the human frame. Bloated bellies, distorted features, dark yellow complexions,
livid eyes and lips; in short, all the symptoms of dropsy, jaundice, and ague, united in
their persons. That this deleterious miasma did exist in the Campagna from the very first
foundation of Rome down to the present moment, there can be little,doubt.”
He tben goes on to prove the fact, from tbe writings of Cicero
Invy, and others; and makes it clear that the population of Italy
are no nearer heing acclimated against this poison, than they were
two thousand years ago.
Sir James Johnson makes the following just remarks, which
apply equally to the malarious districts of our country: