The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-07-12
THE FIGHT ON MOSQUITOES
AND FLIES.

AND FLIES,
Now that the transmission OF di.
seaSe by insects of various kinds is
attracting general attention, the
following circular issued from the
Office of the supervising surgeon gen.
eral OF the United States Marine Hos.
pital service to the medical officers Of
the service, will be Of interest, show
ing that the matter has been taken
up by the national authorities: - ~.
Your attention is directed to the
Importance of insects as factors 10 the
conveyance OF disease. There is no
longer any doubt as to the relation Of
the mosquito to the malarial diseases
and to fllariasis. According to 81.
mond, plague Is transmitted fro n the
rat to man by the flea. The infec-
tion Of typhoid fever, and to certain
extent, cholera may be conveyed
from the excreta by flies. According
to the recent work of the army com.
mission, the mosquito plays an i'm.
portant role in the transmission of
yellow fever. You are therefore d.
rected to give particular attention to
this subject SO far as it relates to the
work of the service in quarantine
and the prevention OF the spread Of
communicable diseases. You are ad.
vised to carefully guard patients
suffering with said diseases from the
bites or annoyances Of the insects
above mentioned and to this end to
place mosquito netting over the bed.
Excreta must be treated in a manner
to prevent their becoming food or
breeding places for insects. Hospitals
where communicable diseases are
treated should be thoroughly protect.
ed with fly screens at all windows,
doors and other openings, particular
attention being paid TO the kitchen,
dining.room and protection Of the
food. Should mosquitoes, flies or
other insects gain entrance to the
wards they should be at once destroy
ed.
The best method Of killing insects
In large room Is by sulphur fumiga.
tion. Formaidehyde cannot be de.
pended upon for 1t frequently fails to
kill insects. Pyrethrum when burn
ed 10 an inclosure only stupefes mos
quitoes and flies, and when used these
insects must be subsequently, collect.
ed and destroyed.
You are also directed to guard
against the breeding Of mosquitoes
about marine hospital reservations,
quarantine stations and camps by the
methods now In vogue. Collection OF
water in buckets, barrels, cisterns,
aud the like are favorite places for
the breeding Of mosquitoes. Such
collections should be carefully covered,
or II q cover Is not practicable, pc.
troleum should be poured on the sur
face and replenished from time to
time. All collections Of stsgnant
water, pools, bitches and the like
about the reservation should be drain
ed or II impracticable, petroleum used
as above. Approximately one ounce
| is sufficient 10 still water for Is square
feet Of surface, and ordinarily the ap'
pllcation need not be renewed for one
month. CONCERNING the cultivation
Of certain plants and trees and other
means Of exterminating mosquitoes
you are referred to the works OF Giles
aud Howard, which have recently
been furnished your station.
AZ far as ships sre concerned, par
ticulsr attention should BE- paid 70
the water tanks, casks, buckets and
other wster collections, especially 10
rssions where malaria and yellow
| fever prevail. In vessels coming from
theoo Pe0lons measures ~ above
Iin6lcated should b taken wien Z
view 70 tue destructl0u OF possibly
Eudt dtQuitceo Of their los!ae: ". 7. . =. n
i "a /. 4AI}TEH WY0ANss