New-York tribune., 1901-07-15
OIL is ONLY PALLIATIVE.
NEw-JERsEY'S STATE ENTOMOLOGIsT SAYS
IT MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED BY
DRAINAGE.

IT MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED BY
DRAINAGE.
Trenton n j. July IA (SpeciaI.-That the
mosquito pest in New-Jersey can never be en-
tirely eradicated, although the evil may be great
ly modified by judicious and persistent treat
rnent is the firm belief of Professor John B.
Smith. State entomologist. who is making a
thorough study OF the mosquito. its habits and
the effect OF its presence upon communities
which 1t infests.
Professor Smith returned yesterday from trip
through South Jersey, where he has been COL
lecting facts and studying conditions to aic him
in the prosecution OF the work he has mapped
cut for this summer. This work will consist Of
a thorough investigation OF the mosquito ques-
tion. and will be followed by a report the
State Board Of Agriculture at its meeting next
January. and possibly by report to the legs-
lature on the advisability of official and
ganized warfare on the mosquito. That such q
movement would prove profitable from both a
sanitary and economic point of view. Professor
Smith is convinced. although he believes that
large part of such an undertaking must be
carried by municipalities and local districts.
The sanitary reason IS assigned by the State
entomologist as the principal argument for try
ing TO Danish the mosquito. He is firm be-
lever in the theory that the mosquito is re-
sponsible for the spread of malaria, and that
while the mosquito may be present without the
existence of malaria the disease could not spread
without the mosquito.
THE SPREAD OF MALARIA
Discussing this interesting part Of the prob
lem yesterday. Professor Smith said: 1T has
been satisfactorily demonstrated that one class
OF mosquito the anopheles species, carries the
malariaI germ. This species, contrary to gen
eral BELIEF does not breed in marshes and stag
nant pools, but IN running streams and brooks.
The Larvae not hatched in the swift flowing
parts of the stream, but in eddies other
places where there is little current The
anopheles species is confined TO any par
ticular section of this State, although it is more
numerous in the easterly portion and along the
Delaware River. The malaral mosquito is not
SO plentiful as other varieties. but 1t Is larger
and much more ferocious than the average.
. Unlike most mosquitoes. when it alights
person it does not look about for comfortable
place in which to do its work, but bites the in
stant it strikes. wherever the spot may be. 1t
also bites much harder than the other varieties
In giving his reason for the theory that the
mosquito and the mosquito alone is responsi-
BILE for the presence OF malaria, Professor Smith
said:
THE malarial germ is in a measure similar
IN its growth to the tapeworm. and stage
CATION has shown. must be passed in the body
OF the mosquito. Thus If mosquito should
bite n1alartal fever patient and Immediately
efterward bite person not afflicted the
disease could not be communicated. but II suf-
1fcient time intervened for the metamorphosis
of the germ IN the body OF the insect, the dis
I ease could readily be spread"
Professor Smith knows of no other insect or
animal in which the transformation Of the
cvio
any proof that the mosquito is responsible for
the transmission Of any disease except malaria
II this disease however, could be prevented
by Kidding the State OF its propagator. Professor
Smith feels convinced that the undertaking
would prove profitable investment for the
people OF NewJersey
MEANS OF ELIMINATION. -:
When asked as to the most effective means
for accomplishing the desired end Professor
Smith replied that the only satisfactory measure
was the destruction of the breeding places Of the
mosquitoes This. he confident, could be
accomplished in most localities without an un-
warranted outlay, provided the work was un-
dertaken tudiciously. Mosquitoes, he said.
would breed in either fresh salt water and
along the shore they thrive in water even more
salt than that OF the ocean itself The mos
quito however. Professor Smith says has its
deadly enemies. chief among which are fish,
crabs and other crustaceans. whose presence in
large enough numbers would make its propaga-
tion an impossbity. Tnts means that the mos
quito cannot breed in tidewater, and by MAX
ing Of this fact and. wherever possible
draining off stagnant pools. levelling places
where water gathers, and by the Of oil
where other means are impracticable, Professor
Smith Is firmly convinced that much can be done
toward the eradication OF the pest
Concerning the Use of oil. which is the latest
treatment employed against the mosquito. Pro-
fessor Smith believes IT is efficient only as
mitigating and is only effective tenn
porsriIy. Where there stagnant pools or
still water which cannot be drained. he considers
the Intelligent use OF oil Will prove highly bene-
ncial.
OIL he Gays cannot be employed against the
uaalarial mosquito because the latter Is found
cnly in running streams and never In stagnant
water. There are, he rays. hundreds OF little
streams which less openly and
form many a nest for the malarial species but
which could easily be abolished by covering the
streams Strengthening their beds to
cause a current all over the streams, leaving
none OF those eddies IN which the malaral mos
the case in the neighborhood of Newark where
the wealth OF the municipality would easily
the mosquito
DRAINAGE THE BEST REMEDY
s In large areas like those OF the Haekensack
Meadows and the Passaic Valley, Professor
Smith gays the work OF determination would. OF
cotzrS. be too great to be undertaken by any
nart,cular municipality. and here the assistance
NJ the State would have to be invoked.
In most cases he is convinced that proper
drainage the filling in OF lowlands. frequently
not OF large area and. where necessary, the use
Of OIL would result in freeing at least the more
populous districts from the peet. and, besides
adding to the health Of the locality, would make
1t more desirable as place OF resldence ana
Professor Smith Is receiving replies to the re-
cent circulars sent nut to boards OK health