The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-10-19

In swampy districts), it was chiefly the
scientists who gave the matter their
attention, but now that pocketbooks
are being seriously attacked by de-
probation in land values in infested
districts, the general public attention
4 directed to the subject and investi-
gators are receiving substantial as
sistance. Brave men have shut them
selves in mosquito-proof houses ior
months at a time, in the worst malarlal
districts, and proved that SO long as
they were not bitten they were free
from the poison.
It has long been believed that the
little pests transport many forms OF
disease germs. The illness from yell
low fever of two Spaniards in Cuba
who had been exposed to contagion IN
no other way, and voluntarily allowed
themselves to be bitten by mosquitoes
which had had access to yellow fever
patients, goes far to prove the theory.
That the death of these men caused
the government to put an end to such
experiments is deplored by many.
| Although many authorities still
doubt its existence, it was practically
proven that yellow fever germ 1.-THE
bacillus icteroides) exists. Expert
ments with serum treatment of yellow
fever are about to be tried in Havana,
the newly-acquired cleanliness of
which city has done much towards
stamping out this most dreaded of It's
various diseases. Meantime, lively
interest is being kept up in this coun-
try in the determination of the mos
uito. the bite of which is believed
capable of conveying SO many species
Of poison into the system OF its vic
tim. 1t has been demonstrated that
the larvae will retain life in solution
of corrosive sublimate, and most sub
stances which could materially affect
them are too expensive for practical
Iuse. The most effective destructive
agent. thus far found, is petroleum,
and it is not known whether its action
is due to some specific quality or
whether it simply obstructs respira-
ton. Anyway, the mosquito especial
Iiy abhors petroleum. One variety OF
| the oil seems to serve the purpose as
well as another. Heretofore, work in
this line has been carried on chiefly by
Inriyate individuals and small corpor'
Tations. but now experiments are be-
, | inr made which will attract worldwide
, attention, by no less person thar
! Health Officer DIR. Alvah H. Doty, o.
; New York. His inve stigations are be
E ling made in the causes of science and
! humanity and he is not sparing in ths
= use of the crude oil in the limited dis
i trict where he is working.
E He has chosen Concord, Staten Is
b Hand for field of labor because o.
the prevalence of both acute ant
q chronic malaria, and the vast swarm
s of mosquitoes which torture the inhab
4 itants. A low basin of land, less thar
4 one square mile in extent, contains a
$ least Is stagnant pools of water, vary
e ing in size. There are about 100 small
e wooden houses scattered over the ter
T rjtory. Investigation showed that N
= less than 80 per cent. of their occu
L pants we're suffering from malaria 4
g some form. 1t was impossible to in
IS duce them to give specimens of thei
le blood for analysis, and DR.. Doty wa
le compelled to be satisfied with SINAI
y colonies of mosquitoes collected 70
Sc him, in test tubes, from various local
n tiles. The most poisonous, those of tn
ID anopheles variety, which are suppose
III to spread malaria, were found in great
T. er numbers in sections where thu
disease was most prevalent. These g