The Hydrogen Ion Concentration of the Soil and Natural Waters in relation to Diseases other than Bacterial

Abstract

Certain facts are known concerning the correlation of the distribution of animal species and the hydrogen ion concentration of the soil and water. An attempt is made to apply them to the distribution of malarial fever, as illustrating insect borne disease, and to some of the numerous Trematode infections, afflicting man and other animals, in which snails act as intermediate hosts. The importance of measurements of hydrogen ion concentration (by the colorimetric method) by field workers on the distribution of animals is urged.The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr M. V. Lebour for the suggestion that snails may prove a suitable group for the study of the relation between the reaction of the habitat and animal distribution.