The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-18
HEY GARRY FEVER
Mosquitoes Contribute to Ma
larial Disease.
PREVENTION Is SOUGHT
Some Interesting Experiments
are Being Made.
PREVENTION is SOUGHT

been more notable than the systematic
MOSQUITOS-ONE ride
warfare against the mosquito. with all
that il promises Tor the comfort Of the
future. The mosquito is an annoyance
Of the first rank, not 50 much in some
places as in others. but, taking the coun-
try as a whole, source of very consider
able loss. It renders some good sized
districts not worth living in, and adds 10
the warm weather discomfort Of stiil
larger areas. In some southern cities
travellers notice the almost universal
practice Of arching every bed with mos
quito netting and allowing it TO stay in
place all the year around. This is prac-
tically the case at Charleston. and many
cities south of it along the seacOast. In
New Orleans the mosquito 1ourishes at
Christmas time. Until recently il was
supposed that this pest was something
with which mortals must hear, whatever
lis discomforts. even though the example
Of European countries, particularly Of
Holland. which is well drained and dyked
indicated that the mosquito might be
eliminated without upsetting the balance
Of nature or otherwise disturbing the
peace Of the world.
From the experiments Of Dr.. T. Q.
Howard, the entonologist of the depart
meut of agriculture, of which the data
we're widely diffused through the official
bulletins, il became evident that the mos
quito was by no means q necessary evil.
When its relation to the spread of disease
particularly of malaria, became establish
ed. q decided impetus was given to the
movement for its determination, and that
movement is now well under way A
brief and informal review Of the first
years accomplishments may not be with
out Interest. The scientific stage ia the
warfare against the mosquito has pass
Ell; we are now in the more practical
stage of seeing what can be done to carry
out the plans recommended by the scien-
lists Unfortunately, perhaps-for the
plans have undergone a severer test on
that Accountants has been great mos
quito year. The early rains were 50
heavy and widespread as TO leave pools
of water standing late in the summer
IN places which are ordinarily dry; and
the mosquito resources in the way of
stagnant water Natures provisions
for the multiplication Of these insects
are so ample that their numbers are linn
tied only by the means o subsistence and
the energy of the mother mosquito in
searching outstanding water is wonder
fl1. If you do not believe it, set a pail
of water in your back yard and leave
It standing for a fortnight undisturbed
Although YOU may not have seen a mos
quito this year. the probabilities are that
a brood viii presently appear. 1t takes
from seven to eight days to hatch the
mosquito egges, and the number in each
deposit is about 40oo. At this rate Of null
plication it is easy to see tnat the bring
Ing Of a half dozen mosquitoes into Ger
tain community may in single season
raise the mosquito population to mil
lions
The experiments in fighting malaria
have made the mosquito subject for the
boards of health. municipal and state.
which has given a great impulse 10 the
struggle against the pest. Ii is estimat-
ed that fifty times as much work has
been done in the present summer towards
Its determination. as ever before. It has
become almost "A fashion in one town af-
ter another to make war upon the mos
quito, and. taken as whole the results
have been most gratifying. The failures
have occurred in places where fl was not
possible to secure sufficient unity Of action
principle that no chain is stronger than
its weakest link no locality is better of
than its worst quarters FOR breeding
mosquitoes permit The experiments at
Tuxedo Park and at Winchester. Virginia.
have had good results. and are too Wen
known to call for description here.
One mala~ial patient at Tuxedo had.
through the medium of mosquitoes infect
ed q whole community Nearly forty
persons who were down with the disease
at one time. vhor New York phvsi-
clan saw the kind Of mosquito which
conveys malaria perching or She walls Of
his patents room. He began system
If close screening. particuler ly 10 keep
those persons already infected away from
the insect carriers of the disease; Their ne
applied the kerosene treatment 10 che
staEnant pools that could not otherwise
be controlled. meanwhile 6osine his rae
tent with quirine. with the result that
not a new case OF the disease appeared.
in little community fin Maryland which
has been malaria ridden from time inn
memorial ar expenditure ~ Sio made
by one pu5lic-snirite5 citizen. and all or
Il applied 10 draining and dvkinC has
made this season pass thus far without
a single case OF the troublesome disease.
Winchester began last year with what
mieht DE called voluntary measures on
the part n tho individual house holders:
this year the preventive measures have
been made compulsory. with correspond
inelv improved effect
TIE success Of w. 7. Natteson's work
at Tioyd's Neck. az TIE entrance OF QTs-
ter Bay was also far-reachiug. IN his
private grounds. which are very exten-'
sive. he succeeded I'm eliminating the mos
quito 50 completely that the people liv-
ing IN Centre Island. directly opposite,
decided % see What they could d0. ORR
in~ the winter they had topograph icsd
survey made showing an the possible
breeding places and followed this ~
such drainage measuresas seemed feas-
able. Kerosene was used wherever II
was impossible 10 drain except At great
exnense. and I'm the artificial pools. used
Tor u-aterinr stock. whore the presence OF
oil would have been out Of the question
esf were introduced. The latest reports
indicate that this work has been very
successful: 4 few MOSQUITOES are found.
but the Indications are shat they are do
r-,es-ie7llv bred i0 the chance accumuia-
zion Of water which have been over
looked This IS q particularly import1tn
item. and in washington. Il accounts Tor
most Of the mosquitoes that We nave
Roof cutters. which have been aceiaea-
tellv storned. especially in q rainy season
'il.e this. AFFORD good breeding ground
Unused ash-barrels in the back yard. tn
cars. old botsIes-auy thing that VIII noi0
rain-v.ater-vil answer for The mesquite
-,,7rrosa Il also breeds in sewers