“ A glance at the inhabitants of malarious countries or districts, must convince even the
most superficial observer, that thè range of disorders produced by the poison of malaria is
very extensive. The jaundiced complexion, the tumid abdomen, the stunted growth, the
stupid countenanoe, the shortened life, attest that habitual exposure to malaria saps the
energy of every mental and bodily function, and drags its victims to an early grave. A
moments reflection must show us, that fever and ague, two of the most prominent features
of malarious influence, are as a drop of water in the ooean, when compared with the other
less obtrusive, but more dangerous, maladies that silently, but effectually, disorganize the
vital structures' of the human fabric, under the operation of the deleterious and invisible
poison.
“ What are the consequences? Malarious fevers; or, if these are escaped, the foundation
of chronic malarious disorders is laid, in ample provision for future misery and suffering.
These are not speculations, but facts. Compare the range of human existence, as
founded on the deorement of human life in Italy and England. In Rome, a twenty-fifth
part of the population pays the debt of nature annually. In Naples, a twenty-eighth part
dies. In London, only one in forty; and in England generally, only one in sixty falls
before the scythe of time, or the ravages of disease.”
As is the case with all of our southern seaports, “ the suburbs of
Rome are more exposed to malaria than the city; and the open
squares and streets, than the narrow lanes in the centre of the metropolis.”
“ The low, crowded, and abominably filthy quarter of
the Jews, on the hanks of the Tiber, near the foot of the capital,
probably owes its acknowledged freedom from the fatal malaria to
its sheltered site and inconceivably dense population.” This immunity
may arise, at least in part, from their position at the foot of the
h ill; for there is no exception to the rule, at the South, that a residence
on the bank of a river, or in low land, is less affected by
malaria than the hill that overlooks it. At present, the fact is
inexplicable, although universally admitted.
"We will here add some interesting facts, from the writings of the
distinguished military physician, M. le Docteur Boudin, derived from
personal observation, during long residence in Algeria, and from
official government documents.
“ On the 31st of December, 1851, the indigenous city population (of Algeria) amounted
to 105,865 inhabitants, of whom there were:
Mussulmans................................. ................................................... 81 329
Negroes.................................................................................. .......... 3;488
J ew s ............................................................................................. 21,048
“ If we compare this census with that of the year 1849, the following facts appear:
“ 1. By a comparison of births and deaths in, the official tables, the Mussulman population
is decreasing.
“ 2. The negroes have decreased, in two years, 689.
“ 3. The Jews, during the same time, have increased 2020.
“ The mortality among the European population, in Algeria, from 1842 to 1851, has
varied from 44 to 105 out of every 1000; and, instead of diminishing from year to year,
under acclimation, the mortality has steadily increased.
Mortality according to Nationality.
“ Heretofore we have given the mortality of the European population taken in mass. It
is understood that this mortality must be greatly influenced by the origin of the different
elements of the population. We have shown that the half of the European population is
composed of strangers (other than French), and numbers over 41,000 Spaniards, and
15,000 Italians and Maltese. The official tables give the following mortality, from 1847 to
1851, for the French and strangers (Spaniards, Italians, and Maltese):
Deaths for each 1000.
Strangers. French.
1847 48.4 50.8
1848v 41.8 41.7
1849 84.3 , 101.5
1859 43.4 70.5
1 8 5 1 ............ 39.3 64 5 „
Thus, on the one side, we see that the mortality of the French
greatly exceeds that of the other European population; while, on
the other, in-1850 and 1851, the mortality of the former rises to a
figure three times greater than the normal mortality of France.
Jewish Population.
The official tables give the following resume of the mortality of
the Jewish population, during the years from 1844 to 1849:
4844....................................................................... 21.6 deaths per 1 ,000.
m ..... 36.1 <<
1847-,......................... ......................................... 31.5 “
1848............... 23.4 «
1849.................... 56.9 «
This mortality is greatly below that of both the European and
Mussulman population, and shows the difference of acclimation in
Jews and Frenchmen : “Huile part le Juif ne nait, ne vit, ne meurt,
comme les autres hommes au milieu desquels il habite. C’est là un
point d’anthropologie comparée que nous avons mis hors de contestation,
dans plusieurs publications.”
According to the last tables of the French establishments in
Algeria, the total number of births, from 1830 to 1851, have been
44,900, and that of the deaths 62,768” ! ! ! This fact applies to all
me provinces, and shows that the climate tends to the extermination
of Europeans.
The official statistics also show that the Mussulman (Moorish)
Population is steadily decreasing, in the cities. Dr. Boudin asks;
this diminution the effect of want, or of demoralization? is it
to be explained by the cessation of unions between the native women
jmd the Turkish soldiers? or, finally, is it explained by that mysterious
law, m virtue of which inferior races seem destined to disappear
through contact with superior races ?”