Finding the cause of a dreaded disease
He noticed mosquitoes could be controlled by limiting their access to water, and suffered from malaria himself
AFFECTING humans across all continents for centuries, this debilitating disease was long believed to be caused by unhealthy vapours, which gave its name – malaria, from the Latin word for “bad air”.
While several scientists in the 19th century began zeroing in on its actual cause, the definitive proof was obtained by a British doctor in India, who paid a volunteer for being bitten by the suspected vector.
And Ronald Ross, who would be knighted and win the second Noble Prize for Medicine (not without controversy), celebrated his discovery by writing a poem to his wife – ending: “I know this little thing/A myriad men will save/ O Death, where is thy sting? Thy victory, O Grave?” (the last lines a reworking of the hymn Abide With Me).
Although the discovery in August 1897 was built on work of many scientists around the world since the beginning of the century, Ross (1857-1932),