Abstract
The treatment of general paralysis by inoculation with malaria has been employed for the past five years at the Psychiatric Institute. 1 More than 300 patients with general paralysis have been inoculated intravenously with a single strain of malaria which has been therapeutically effective. The present results are concerned with:
1. A detailed microscopic study of the life-cycle of this parasite made by blood smears taken hourly from 4 patients inoculated with malaria about 3 years ago.
2. The significant finding was the total absence of gametocytes (the sexual forms of the malarial parasite). This agrees with contentions of Gerstmann. 2 The asexual cycle of this strain of malaria is identical with the asexual cycle of “natural” malaria. From a biological point of view it is interesting to note that our malarial strain has apparently become “sterile”, which means that it has lost its capacity for sexual propagation. The absence of gametocytes would make it impossible to infect mosquitos, thus limiting the life-cycle to man alone. Incidentally, we have failed in our efforts to cultivate this strain of malaria in artificial media.
3. A strain of malaria free from gametocytes is of considerable practical value in the treatment of general paralysis in that:
(a) It eliminates the possibility of the transmission of malaria to other members of the community.
(b) It precludes the occurrence of malarial relapse following adequate quinine administration.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.