The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-16

IdE DAux
that the dragon dy would thus mis- the IN
scots which are abroad at night time. IL y
also said that dragon hes cannot b arti-
hcially propaRated with anything like the
rapidity with which mosquitoes propagate
that It would be questionable policy to at
tempt TO destroy the mosquito, it being in
his opinion scayenger, says TINT other
enemies may be relied on to do that work.
He suggests that to Danish the mosquito
the best plan is to drain meadows, boys
and swamps, to Al up stagnant pools, and
He also says that one remedy
very simple and near at hand 10 the. preser-
walton Of insectlvorous birds. And he
thinks little trouble taken to prevent bad
boys from killing birds in the neighbor-
hood of towns would be likely to 20 further
than expensive and impracticable attempts
Of his Investigations included house flies.
He suggests, by the way. q very erect
i've destroyer Of the domestic fly is the
unappreciated insect commonly known %
the Thousand legs" OF this creature he
says that during the day It retires to the
darkness of leaky basins and cellars, but at
night comes forth, and traversing the en-
upon the wall in the kitchen or wherever
flies are abundant and Stays every one with
in reach, If unable to devour all OF Its
captures, it allows the first to drop to
the floor after receiving fatal wound. and
proceeds to the others. He admits. howev-
er, that in spite Of its usefulness he does
not encourage this insect In his house, pre-
ferring whitewashed cellar with dry, &C.
ment bottom and sanitary plumbing to its
services. The bite Of this little creature is
said, upon the authority Of Latreille, to be
poison nous.
Mr.. Weeks does not believe it to be possi-
BILE to breed dragon flies, ct any rate TO
such point as to be eficAcious. II the
question is raised why it IL not as easy TO
breed dragon flies az it ia fish, silkworms,
bees, &C., the question may be answered by
the further query, Why is it not as easy to
produce herds of tigers, lions, and other
such uuadrupeds AZ it is to produce horses,
cattle and sheep.
Bees may b. reared in swarms from year
to year, but it is doubtful whether hornets
or yellow jackets, both destroyers of flies,
could be. The Australian coccinella, used
to devour the plant lice on Florida orange
trees, requires no artificial aid in rearing.
Mr.. Beutenmuller holds the plea, raised in
behalf of the mosquito, that in its larval
stage it destroys the germs of the miasma,
to be futile and misleading. The germs OF
there are methods of exterminating them
much more effective than the work expected
Of mosquitoes; these are drainage. clear
ance and sunlight.
Among the natural remedies against mos
quitoes to be relied upon are the services OF
fish and water fowl. Fish can be introduced
into our public lakes, and aquatic birds
may be adopted for the purpose Of destroy
ing mosquito Larvae near houses and in
ponds in we'll cleared fields. This natural
list saws that he has often observed how in
frequent the larvse are in Central park lakes
and he ascribes their absence to the fish
and the water fowl. :.
Certain artificial remedies are also relied
upon. The use of coal oil in swamps, by
face of the water itself, is q very practica
and energetic remedy. It destroys the mos
quito in it's early stages. The use Of Ian
terms, SO arranged as to attract and destroy
the mosquitoes, is another remedy. Int
mosquitoes are attracted to them, and art
destroyed in the cans of coal oil or kerosene
or other similar mixtures which may b'
used. They should be placed around houses
hotels and in marshes. The expense ant
trouble of management are small, as they
are only used during few months of tn,
year. Indeed, almost every method imag
Unable of catching and destroying the insec
has been suggested, except the very simple
one OF puItluk bdle oA Aco U"AA oA~ oA"D0AAAs
it to death.
These scientific authorities are not allow
Offering suggestions for the relief of person
whose situation makes them liable to suffe
from the bites Of these insect tormentors
and who cannot wait for the propagation o
the dragon fly. They recommend lemol
vinegar on v 81 ptTona nt sna on
roots OF Triticum repens is successfully
used at Simbirsk as q preventive agains
mosquitoes, and weak solution of quassi
wood boiled in water has also been recon
mended.
One interesting point is made by Mrs
Aaron. The public does not understan'
Mosquitoes, she says. The idea prevails a
the seaside that q land breeze bring
swarms Of mosquitoes from far inland
This notion is based on the suppositio1
that mosquitoes are capable of long sue
tanned flight, which is an error. The pre-
valence Of the mosquitoes during the Ian
during the lulls in the winds that the mos
quitoes can fly. On our coast sea breez
means stiff breeze. In such q wind tn
mosquitoes generally conceal themselves il
the trees and large bushes. which ON th
seacoast are battered down to square TO-
BY the wind, but if the wind dies down tn
MOSQUITOES, which the unsuspecting occu
miles away, come out from their hidin
place and the females, the only ones tina
do the biting, begin their work of devasta
ton.
Among tho accusations brought againa
the mosquito must not be omitted one b
MI. j. W. Clarke that mosquitoes interfer
with the arts and manufactures, that the
ruin paper pulp. But. perhaps the mos
surprising charge made against them
that Of MI. G. II. Murray, who states tha
he has observed the mosquito to light o
baby trout, and literally pump out thei
brains before they could escape.
Such is the very interesting discusslo
which the public owes to DR.. Lamborn's u
vestigations and public spirit and the abil
ity Of the authors of this book. The invest
cations have, of course, great humanital
ian and scientific interest. The question
also ono of some commercial importance
A syndicate which should abolish mosqu
toes and reclaim the lands which, even !
the suburbs of New York, this little inset
renders deserts, would, no doubt, be Rret
financial success.
Milg's Opera House
JOHN MAoUiRE. MANAGER.