The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-09-16

floors, because the mosquito avoids drafts
and light 1t is to be hoped that none Of
} our readers have been misled into practic
ing on this theory in order that their
houses may be also mosquito free; if they
have, We are sure that they have ere this
repented of it. The fact is, that slight
draft helps, the mosquito, if it is in the di.
rection in which he wishes to move, just
as it helps any flying or floating thing
while gale blows him to destruction in
like manner. He does not, like q moth,
make for candle and burn his wings
but, like sensible creature a. he is, he
uses light for his guide, and he knows
that where he sees lights burning there
are huge creatures to be found which
beneficent nature has provided for the
delectation of his race; and so where he
sees light he "goes for" it, although
once within the walls of the house in
which it burns he is comparatively in
different to it, finding in the inhabitants,
whether they sit in dark corners or not,
metal much more attractive.
The first step to be taken for protection
from mosquitoes (which for the next
month or so will be the torment of count
less households, and particularly of little
children) is to keep the windows and
doors shut in the early evening. The time
when the insect takes his walks abroad is
from an hour before to an hour after sun
set, just the time, by the way, at which the
miasma of fever and ague is most active.
At this time, and not much at any other,
the mosquito enters houses He Of course
may come in at others, but in very small
numbers. Closed windows at this time,
and an active Strengthening of such as may
have entered at others, will keep house
pretty free of the pest. After the night
has we'll settled down the windows may
be opened almost with impunity, as the
insects do not rove about in focks after
that time. But windows open about dusk
are likely to he entered by winged process
sions, and light is, as We have said, a
guide, if not an attraction. The closing
of the windows by gauze netting in the
daytime-that is after the early hours-is
generally supertluous, as the insect is in
clined to be quiet then, except in dark,
moist weather. The notion that he shuns
light is fallacious, and is likely to have a
very pointed sort of refutation. He does
not need light for his work; but he prac-
tees Just as well under the blaze of the
sun, under the glare of chandelier as at
midnight or in the gloomiest nook of the
shrubbery.
AS to protection against him when he is
once established in the house there is
none, except netting, and, as people can
not live under nets, this is available only
at bedtime. Like all insects, however, he
shuns camphor, and the sprinkling of
this is some defense while the odOr lasts.
An ointment might be made of it which
would act like plate-armor to those who
would be willing to smear their faces and
hands with it; and under some visitations
of this animal one might be ready to
anything to get relief But let no one be
misled by another theory, that as the mos
quito's poison is infused into their blood
it is drawn out with the blood, and there
fore if the mosquito has begun his repast
upon your nose or your knuckles it is
better to let him finish than to drive him
away. The proof of the pudding is in
this case decidedly in the eating, and it
will be found that the mosquito migrate
fully leaves torment behind him even
when he is allowed to fly off, gorged with
the fluid that he loves Get rid of him
as soon as possible. The patent anti
dotes to mosquito bites are all catch
penny frauds. There is no relief except a
little diluted spirits of hartshorn, and this
is only partial. A perfect antidote is a
great desideratum; for the effect of the
bite lasts long with many people, and in
some produces very unpleasant conse-
quences.
Protection against summer insects of
all kinds is problem which might we'll
engage the attention of some thoughtful
and well-instructed housekeeper, if such a
person still exists. Flies are very serious
drawback to the comfort of the house.
holds of which they form a part, and they
have been so from time immemorial. To
see them wading through the butter and
struggling through the milk, to have one
promenade over your forehead, and, when
driven off, return with perseverance and
precision exactly to the same spot-these
and other nameless and unnamable con-
sequences of their presence are great an
noyance. Nevertheless, how little has
been done to protect us against them!
Wire gauze, poison and sticking-paper
make up the sum of our defenses, and yet
there are conditions which are sure protec-
tons against them. For example, as We
are informed, in the house we mentioned be-
fore, one is rarely seen, so that for fourteen
years no manner of protection against
them has been required, even in the din
ing room. What is the cause of this ex-
emption no one knows.