The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-12-06
For the Reporter.
The Case Against the Mosquito.

new crusade Is the one which as
begun to be waged against the mosquito
In such regions as Alaska this active
pest doubtless has a great future, but In
certain parts Of the civilized world hi
days are numbered and his glory belongs
to the past. Mankind did not need TO
wait for the dictum Of science to know
that the mosquito is n pest Of the wors
type. For many years, however, the
scientists have been accommodating the
evidence and now the mosquito has been
indicted, and the crime Is not simply
that of assault and battery, but of man.
slaughter. Furthermore, it is the female
that commits the crime-one case where
the male is truly the nobler sex.
Recent yellow journal" articles have
given prominence TO facts 10 the life
history of this insect, that had been
quietly demonstrated several years ago.
The connection of mosquitoes with ma
recognized as proven and the next qurs.
ton Is what TO do about 1t. All mos.
quitoes, however wicked 10 their intent,
are not given to this evil practise of
transmitting the malarial germ. There
are mosquitoes and mosquitoes, and il
takes the specialist to call each by name
Beware, however, of the mosquito with
dusky or spotted wings; she has tn
power to fill your blood with the dread
disease. Fortunately, this species is less
common IN the northern states than else
where, but already it has been found
near Boston.
Now for the remedy. For years the
"bug fellers" of the Agricultural D p ,rt-
ment at Washington have Teen learning
the habits of the mosquitoes and study
ing how to kill them. 10 extermi-
nate any insect pest the plan usually
adopted is that of killing the young
or destroying the eggs. The mos
quito breeds in stagnant water. Fill
up the hollows, drain off the swamps
and the mosquito must go to return no
more, Ii such method Is impraclic,
BILE, thin coating of common kerosene
Oil on all standing water will prevent
the Matching of whatever eggs may he
present and also kill all mosquitoes that
come to deposit eggs. This is not
theory, but fact. It. has been tried in
Africa, and mosquitoes have been reduc.
ed 10 numbers and malarial fever has
become less common. La a little town
in Maryland, clergyman tried in vain
to secure municipal action, last year,
" hen malaria was raging in every fhm-
ily. Finally, from his small salary of
$500 he expended $40 in draining the
wet places about the village, and this
year there were but two or three malaria
cases in the whole village.
Municipal action has been secured in
Southern town through the active ell.
deavor of its mayor. This gentleman,
at first credited with more enthusiasm
than sense, has gained the confidence of
his fellow citizens and next year NUM-
cipal ordinance with penalties attach d
will push on the good work OF extermi-
mating the mosquito. What was done,
this year, in the way Of draining and use
of oil made a marked difference in the
number of mosquitoes In this town. A
county club on Long Island propose to
| expend about $4,000, next season, on
their grounds killing mosquitoes with
shovel and oil can. Their movement
against the enemy will be watched with
interest, unless our attention has to be
given to some greaser war.
The Skowhegan4hosquito is probably
not of the deadly type, but even II only
guilty of assault, shbfs well worth look
ing after. The mosquito doesn't fly far
and the Skowhegan citizen who Is bitten
by one of these little beasts can perhaps
| find little comfofb in the thought that
in all probability 1t is his own mosquito
that did The work. In few cases your
neighbours mosquitoes may come across
! the line, just as his hens may trespass.
but usually the mosquito Is yours and
she was Matched and raised on the home
place. Observation has shown that a
very little stagnant water VIII supply a
large family with mosquitoes all the sea-
son. Scores of mosquitoes have been
caught as they came out Of bottle of
water and hundreds we're seen to emerge
| from small hole in sewer trap. In
either case, a teaspoonful Of oil would
have been the ounce of prevention.
Skowhegan Is not cursed with mos
quitoes as many places are, but few
are too many, especially as they may he
the carriers of disease. 1t will be well,
then, to give little attention to the
mosquito, next summer, in connection
with the rest Of the good work Of 'Town
| ImDroyementD