The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-13
WAR ON THE MOSQUITO.

heretofore the mosquito has been considered in
light than in that of nuisance whose presence
seemed to be necessary adjunct of cool
ings and whose song acted sort of irritant at
night to prevent exhausted humanity from yielding
sasly to the sedatve influence of the south breeze.
More less crude devices have been called into use
to interfere with his proverba familiarity d.
minish his opportunities for puncurng cuticles and
teasng upon the blood of the public to it's intense dis
comfort but concerted movement has yet been made
to prevent his propagation and effect his complete
termination.
OF late though there has been an awakening of the
public mind with regard to this pestferous insect due
IN measure to the researches OF medical scen-
lists who have demonstrated that he is active dis
seminator of disease. Exhaustive experiments made in
Cuba by United States army and marine hospital sur
seons have beyond question that certain yarie
ties Of the mosquito potent agents for the spread
of yellow fever and STEPS for the wipng the en-
tire mosquito family have been taken in consequences
The ponds around Havana have been drained oil has
been used for the destruction of the larvae and the
hospitals have been equipped with guards against the
insects entry and a result health conditions have
improved to a gratifying extent.
Havanas example has been followed with good re-
suits by several Southern cities the subject is be-
ginning to attract serious attention-so serious in
fact that the declaration of general war upon the
tuneful, scissor-bed bood-sucking, heetwnged pest
OF this latitude is among the probabilities the near
future. New Orleans, which, the Times Democrat as
sures us. will be without objection residence city
in summer If it but get rid of its mosquitoes has
about concluded that the is by no means impos-
sihe of performance and is contemplating its under
taking In support of concerted attack upon the
pest the Times Democrat says:
The mosquito nuisance has been somewhat reduced ny
The of wire which shut the insects this
IS relief within the reach Of the rich only partially
i've at the best and OF avail those who not care
be smut mp IN their houses during The
regarded impossible great number OF the
insects and the supposed immense breeding places
swamps around the city.
ANY thorough investigation would have SHOWN q 10 the
contrary long but made Recent investigations
have proved that The task difficult than imagined
and practical experiments have demonstrated
quito nuisance be ghtcned entirely destroyed
1t shown, Tor instance. that the not
blown IN from the swamp. formerly supposed except in
extraordinary winds but that they bred or near the
houses which they that they live only DAYS and
swarms, While troublesome and difficult rid of
they haced the and larvae easily destroyed by
oil or hsh or the draining Of ponds
tits to be hoped that the TimesD Democrats crusade
against the mosquito win succeed and spread Here in
Texas II ought to be easy to upon the suggestions
that paper offers. Oil which is potent agent in the
destruction of eggs and larvae is plentiful and cheap
and its general for sprnkling streets should
be induced by the fact OF it's value as destroyer of
disease-scaterng insects Wet down with oil streets
alleys and back yards would longer figure as mos
quito hatcheries, and unquestonaby tho most fertile
mosquito fields about Texas cities and towns would at
small cost be efectually sterilzed by the more free
of petroleum in their saturation for dust laying
nurDosps