Economic Entomology from the View Point of the Sanitarian

Entomology as a specific science was not known to our grandfathers, and the economic application as, related to horticulture in the control of plant diseases is a development of this generation, while the application of entomology in the control of human and animal diseases, in public hygiene and sanitation, is the development of the last very few years. The new science of Medical Entomology is perhaps barely five years old and we, here on the Pacific Coast, have had a large share in its systematic development. The unique position geographically which California in particular occupies with reference to the entire world, provides an opportunity for observation and experiment not found elsewhere, and the climatic conditions afford a favorable basis for control when the life history and habits of the responsible disease vehicle are known, The following quotation from the letters of a prominent eastern physician indicates the tenor of a number of letters received from interested observers, viz., “It looks very much as if the Pacific States are destined to lead the nation, ye8, the world, in this extremely important and direfully neglected work.” Perhaps no state in the nation needs to protect itself more against the introduction of disease than does California because it is the goal of many thousands of health seekers and other visitors, but this it can do more easily and more successfully than any other state, on account of its natural resources conducive to health and vigor. The greatest menace of course is that of the parasitic tropical and semi-trol1ical diseases which are insect borne, owing to the fact that these diseases can thrive here almost without exception if once introduced. The economic entomologist if also equipped as a sanitarian and parasitologist, has a greater opportunity by far to 8tay the advance of 8uch diseases as malaria, yellow fever, bubonic plague and the like, than has the sanitarian without the entomological and l1arasitological training. Manifestly the person who is familiar with the habits of the Anopheles mosquito in addition to knowledge of malaria and the causative micro-organism, has a far greater advantage in controlling the disease. The Same holds true for yellow fever, and bubonic plague as distributed by fleas, etc. As the successful economic entomologist is not merely a student of systematic entomology and morl1hology, he must indeed be proficient in chemistry and mechanics, so the Medical Entomologist must cover also a broader field and include in addition to the above, the greater portion of the field of Parasitology in a restricted sense, i.e., must be familiar with the habits of the pathogenic organisms carried, the manner in which insects become infected and in turn how these infect other animals and man. With the scope of our subject pretty well defined it might be contended that this is not a branch of economic entomology at all, and indeed, the sanitarian may find little sympathy at the hands of the usual type of entomologist, perhaps because the mere matter of human life and happiness is involved,—that this field does not concern itself with the tree and its fruit, and the vine and its product. However that may be, and I do not ask for less attention to the horticultural side of economic entomology, but I do plead for more positive attention to the sanitary and hygienic phase of. the subject. Surely where a preventable disease is concerned such a8 malaria, a good economic case can also be made. Business is far more keenly affect ell by malaria and mosquitos than we may at first thought suspect. There is perhaps no other disease that quite so successfully undermines a man's efficiency, his vigor, and good spirits. Victims of malaria whether employed in the orchard or vineyard, or in the wheat field, or at dredging or in construction, are only giving half in return for their wages. The value of real estate is greatly affected. Situations otherwise ideal for permanent house sites or summer homes are made practically uninhabitable by the presence of this disease. Malaria is always a great drawback to colonization,—great areas offering the most fertile soil and best of climate, affording otherwise the best of health conditions, are made of little value because of this disease', an infection which can be controlled almost absolutely and at a small relative cost. The malaria crusades under the writer's direction during the past year gave protection at the rate of 40 cents a day per square mile, with a reduction of malaria in the first season by approximately 45 per cent. Once the real estate booster and colonizer gets the right view point things will change. The writer had to feel much opposition at first from certain classes of people who feared that publicity would do the town an injury. The attitude is changing rapidly so that now many who were once opposed, feel that it is a good advertisement to make known that the town of so-and-so is actively engaged in fighting malaria. And certainly it is, for everybody had already been well informed of the fact that this disease was prevalent there, notwithstanding all statements to the contrary. The time will unquestionably come, indeed is already here, when the sanitary officers of a community will be required to have a knowledge of insect, as far as disease carriers such as mosquitos, flies and fleas are concerned.