It is now generally accepted as a fact, that malaria is a germ disease. Where there is rich land and heavy vegetation, there will likely be malaria about the end of the Summer, and in hot climates all the year. There is also more or less malaria adjacent to streams, and it is believed that it always exists in newly-cultivated land.

Symptoms

Languor, headache, aching of body and limbs, chilly sensations, followed by fever. There are many types of malaria manifested as "dumb" ague, daily, alternate, and third day ague. Also many forms of intermittent fever. It is supposed that the germs of different types of malaria require different lengths of time for development. At a certain stage, they produce the acute attacks with chill, high fever, perspiration. When the fever subsides, the symptoms may disappear until more germs are matured.

Diet

It is remarkable that so little attention has been paid to the dietetic treatment of this disease. Good blood and an active liver resist malaria without any drugs, but this fact seems to have been lost sight of in its treatment. We have seen patients treated for months with constant recurring attacks, without any notice being taken of the fact that the patient was living on fried pork, hard-fried eggs, hot biscuits, fried potatoes, and strong coffee. No one can eat such a diet and keep well, much less get well, when debilitated by malaria, which engorges the liver, impoverishes the blood and weakens the whole digestive system. After an attack of malaria, the system is a much damaged fortress. The blood is the agency of repair, and food the material. The stomach and bowels will need to be cleansed and disinfected, and as soon as the fever is down, easily digested, and non-fermentable foods should be given, such as egg punch, beaten egg, in three parts milk and one part cream, that have been sterilized, or pasteurized. Gelatine may be used instead of egg, where more agreeable. These may be flavored to suit. In most cases sour fruit, such as oranges, lemons, peaches, baked apples, strawberries, and fresh grape juice will give good results.

The diet in convalescence should be similar to that in catarrh of the stomach. All coarse, tough, or indigestible substances and fermented foods must be avoided. The cereals should be well cooked and malted. Baths and general care will greatly aid. Get all foul and effete matter out, and good healthy blood as soon as possible, and malaria will seek weaker victims.