The Washington times., 1901-07-07
Miscellaneous Books.

Miscellaneous Books.
Mosquitoes: How They Live; How
They Carry Disease; How They Are Gas
sified; How They May be Destroyed" by
L. Q. Howard, Ph. D., of the Department
of Agriculture, is a little book whose
contents are clearly indicated by the
comprehensive title. The author has given
his solution of problems which have in
terested most people during the summer
months. with an ardent and intense in
terest amounting even to excitement. 1t
is fully Illustrated. and is worth the read
ing of scientist or anyone else VINO
feels inclined to take it up.
The preface of the book is encouraG-
ing TO those who dislike both the song of
the mosquito and the result of his inti-
mate society. The author says;
some years ago was visiting fam
lily in the mountains 1t was during
a dry season. and water was scarce.
There were no swamps, no lakes or
pools, ana the drinking water was
taken from springs; yet mosquitoes
were so plentiful that II was necessary
TO screen the porches. that sitting out
OF an evening might be made possible.
/ asked where the water came from IN
which they washed their clothes, ana
they replied, as expected, FROM n
rain-water tank, which. as 1t nap
/ investigated the tank and found 1t
literally alive with mosquito larNae'
A pint of kerosene stopped the breed
ing, and as the water was drawn from
a faucet near the bottom of the tank
the kerosene did not injure 1t:
The indifference of this family as
to the source of their local mosquito
. pest, or rather their combined lBnoF-
ance of and indifference to the subject
of the breeding places, was at that
time-and it was not so very long ago
characteristic of people in general.
1t was my good fortune, through the
widespread newspaper accounts OF my
kerosene experiments in the Catskill
Mountains in 1892, to become more or
less identified with many practical eX-
periments in the destruction of mos
quitoes from that time on. Interest IN
the subject became very great, espe-
cially among summer residents OF the
country. and especially near the sea
shore. even before the agency of
mosquitoes in the spread of disease
became established, and before it be-
came a generally accepted fact.
With the knowledge that We now pos
sess 1t seems incredible that people
should all these years have suffered.
more or less patiently, the tormentinS
bites of CuleX and the insidious, but
more dangerous, punctures OF Ano-
pheles Withou. making the slightest
effort to abatc the nuisance or the
danger, beyond slapping, in a revenge
full way. at individual biters. In many
ing could be easier than to put a
stop to the whole tormenting plague.
In many other cases the problem is
more duncult, but in even the worst
cases, by a judicious effort, which
should be a community effort. and by.
the expenditure OF a greater or smaller
amount of money. much relief can be
gained. In fact. Mr.. w. j. Matheson,
of New York, was quite right when, In
the summer Of 1900. just before COM
mencing a successful crusade against
the mosquitoes on the north shore of
Long Island. he wrote me that there
seemed 10 him to be no more reason
for enduring the mosquito scourge
than in allowing smallpox TO raVage
communities as 1t used TO do before
the days of Jenner.'
The first chapter is devoted to the gen.
eral life history and characteristics of
the insects; the second to the subject OF
their connection with malaria, other
chapters to their connection with yellow
fever. their natural enemies. and rene
dies against them and for their bites.
Among the chief means of preventing
the breeding of these pests may be found
the drainage and drying up OF pools of
stagnant water, and the use Of kerosene
on such pools. II is stated that eucalyp-
tus trees prevent the breeding of mos
quitoes, and that the planting of castor
oil plants about a house is also good
The author, however, does not stand
sponsor for these statements. Glycerine
and also household ammonia are said 10
stop the irritation caused by the insect S
bites. CNew York: Mcclure, Phillips &
Co. sl.501
"The Flight of Helen, and other
Poems" by Warren Cheney, is slender
little book of verse with some good things
in it. The very brief poem which gives
It's title to the volume is one of these
things, and so is the following:
THE WATCHER.
J. Martin, with the rest
Watch while the old year dies;
All prayers find answer, but un5lest
know mine own arise.
Across the church l see
Nv slim Elisabeth
Jlpon her breast the drapcTy
Scarce rises with her breath.
Yet, when ! look. she knows,
As if ] spoke her name;
And on her cheek the color goes
And fiutters like a fame
Back Just a twelyemonths space
Nv brother John and !
Sat in this se!fsame quiet place
And watched the old year die.
To both she was the sun,
For both loves only way;
But if she wanted none,
Not any man could say
That night she made no stir,
No sign my heart might keep;
But when he turned and looked at her
l saw her color leap
i saw the color rise
And hover like breath
saw the challenge OF his eyes
And IL prayed his death.
Tonight, her tell-tale red
!. Martin, make to play
But God-he heard me-JOhn is dead,
And IL dare not pray.
There is delicacy of sentiment and a
strength and sUreness of touch about
these little verses and sonnets which is
refreshing. (San Francisco: Elder &
Shepard
"Home Thoughts a book of essays
published modestly over the signature
&C." is a discussion OF the problems Of
family life. in much the style Of Mrs
Stoves House and Home Papers" 1t is
obviously a reprint of newspaper ar
ticles. but IS none the worse for that.
The authors point of view Is conserva-
tive, and her spirit-for the work is evi-
IDENTIFY that of a woman-thoughtful, re-
fined. gentle. and full of good sense. 1t
is plainlv her desire to check certain OBJ
tectionable tendencies of modern life
while retaining all essential elements of
II there is any home in this
land where all of her suggestions are fol-
lowed IL will certainly be happy one.
Among the subjects discussed are the