New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
MOSQUITOES AND MALARIA.

Koch after inyestigating the mosquito In the
marshes of Tuscany. arrives at the same con-
illusions as Surgeon Major Ross, who conducted
a similar inquiry in India several years ago and
was in charge Of the expedition sent out few
months ago by the Liverpool School OF Tropical
Diseases to South Africa Grassi had already
shown that relationship exists between GER
tain gnats and malaria in other parts of Italy;
80 that Koch makes practically no new dis
covery except that he is disposed to hold the
"Cuex ppiens" responsible for the communiea-
ton Of disease as we'll as the "Anophees,' to
which Ross limited such activities. Neverthe-
less cumulative evidence alone has Its value;
and 1t is gratifying to know that Koch, having
finished his work In Western Italy. has gone to
Sumatra to continue the research.
A good deal Is yet to be learned about the
precise method or methods by which the mos
quito promotes the spread OF malarial disease
1t is known that the characteristic germs Of ma
larial fevers, like those Of some other maladies,
live double life. They seem to require two
different classes Of abiding place both animate
for their complete development The microbe
Of the Texan cattle disease is conveyed to Its
bovine victims by tick. still more terrible
pest that affects horses, cattle and dogs In
Africa which are bitten by the tsetse fly az
larial germ. II not In the others. the mischief
making organism goes through certain stages or
its evolution in the larger of the two creatures
in which II thrives. and passes other chapters
of its life history in the tissues and organs OF
the insect so much appears to have been
demonstrated beyond question.
But opinions still differ to the way In
which the germs get into the mosquito from
man. and how they get into from the mos
quito The latter part of the problem is, OF
course the more Interesting King had the I'M
preston that a mosquito could acquire the germs
from one human subject by biting. and then In
oculate another by a similar operation Man
son and Laveran doubted this, and believed
that man takes the organism In question into
his system either by drinking water In wnicn
mosquitoes have laid their eggs. thus injecting
the fluid, or by breathing air In which are par
ticles Of dust from the beds OF dried up ponds
contaminated by mosquitoes. Grassi Ross ana
others, however. have impaired malaria to per
sons by letting infected mosquitoes bite them,
70 that It Is probable that more than one means
exists for the transportation OF the parasite
from insect TO man.
1t IL desirable that these Investigations Of for
eign bacteriologists be followed up in America
with careful definition OF the pernicious
species Of mosquito a study Of their habits. and
experiments in ways to exterminate them Sug
gestions have already been offered on this sub
feet by the chronological experts Of the Agri-
cultural Department at Washington. But the
matter needs to be carried further. The local
health boards Of thousand communities In
this country should he told just how to Identify
the malaria bearing mosquito, how to differen-
tiate his breeding place from other wet spots
and how to wage a successful and economical
campaign against the offender.
Then, too. the question will arise in many
minds as to the completeness with which
laria will be abolished II the mosquito is effectu
ally suppressed. Each In itself is a serious nui-
sance And II a reasonable hope may be enter
tained that community get rid of both
at once In some easy way wonderful stimulus
will be given to the draining Of marshes and
pools OF stagnant water But large invest
ments Of time. money and enthusiasm will be
made by Americans in sanitary engineering Of
this kind without proof OF its efficacy in ad-
vance.