ALTNEULAND

Organ of the Zionist Commission for the Exploration of Palestine

PUBLISHED BY

THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA.

In the March number of "Altneuland" Dr. Sandler pointed to the wide prevalence of malaria in Jerusalem and to its significance for the health conditions of the whole population, and of the Jewish population in particular. But it is not in Jerusalem alone — cases of malaria occur in the colonies as well. Herein lies the importance of the malaria question for the entire work in Palestine, and the urgency of a discussion of the measures for combating it, which were only touched upon in the article mentioned above.

Hitherto the chief weight in the colonies has been laid upon the planting of eucalyptus groves, in accordance with the earlier assumption that the miasmas of the swamps engender malaria, the swamp-fever. It is remarkable how hard the old notions are to root out, despite the progress of science. They find fresh nourishment, it is true, again and again in the fact that this disease is uncommonly prevalent in swampy districts, where vapours of this kind become especially perceptible to eye, nose, and feeling. In fact it is only the modern age that has cleared up the connection, by establishing that gnats (mosquitoes), whose propagation is bound to standing water, transmit the germ of the disease to men. Closely bound up with the belief in the miasmas were the prejudices which aimed at purifying the disease-laden atmosphere by natural means of improving the air. In particular the view was widespread that certain trees