The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-09-26
DEATH IN MOSQUITOES.
Scientific investigation Shows the In.
sects to BE a Serious Menace
to Human Life.


important particulars has become in
the last few years a study of the
mosquito.
The mosquito is born and grows to
full size under water. From eggs al
most microscopic in size it becomes
first a little wriggling larva, then
passes through a chrysalis or pupa
stage, finally developing into the
winged insect with which we are
sadly familiar. In the larva and
pupa stages the mosquito, although
living in the water, breathes air, and
hence spends nearly all of its time
at or near the surface. The eggs are
laid by the female on the surface of
the water.
1t would be inferred from this that
stagnant ponds are the principal
breeding places of mosquitoes. This
is the fact, but they are not by any
means the only breeding places.
Pools or tanks of water of any kind
are equally suitable for the purpose.
In some places mosquitoes have been
found breeding in broken bottles
which were placed on the top of a
stone wall. They have been known
TO multiply in the flower vases on the
tables in houses. Rain-filled hollows in
trees, hollow stumps, and any SIM
liar natural receptacle for rain wa
ter, as well as closed sewers, old
wells and cisterns, give the mosquito
chance to multiply by millions.
Coming as they do naturally from
swamps, the adult mosquitoes were
long ago associated with malaria, a
disease now known to be caused by
a swamp parasite. Careful experi-
ments have at length proved that
malaria is usually due to the pres
ence of mosquitoes. In fact, the
blame for this disagreeable disease
is laid at the door of the mosquito
by most scientific men to-day.
AS far back as 1881 a connection
was noticed between flights of mos
quitoes in tropical countries and yell
low fever. Through the experiments
now being undertaken by the United
through a variety of previous OBJ
servations by private investigators. it
has been almost conclusively demon
strated that the mosquito is the
principal if not the only means of the
dissemination of this dread plague.
Two lives recently sacrificed in Cuba
to the Investigation of the subject
have furnished the last proofs of the
fact.
A third disease, much feared in GER
tain regions, is now known to be
chargeable to the mosquito. 1t is an
affection of the skin and glands
known as elephantiasis, and is most
horrible and disfguring. 1t is caused
by parasites brought and introduced
by mosquitoes.
1t will be seen. therefore, says the
Chicago Inter Ocean, that the loss of
untold numbers of lives is directly
rhargeable to the mosquito. Hence
its determination has become a mat
ter of vital Importance to humanity
In many districts. OF recent years
thousands of experiments have been
undertaken to find methods for ex-
terminating the noxious insect. OF
all the remedies suggested the best
seems to be to stop the breeding by
making all breeding places untenable.
The Introduction of certain va
rieties of fishes and various chem
icals into stagnant ponds and pools
has been successfully tried, but the
most useful method yet developed is
to cover the surface of all breeding
places with a film of kerosene or
petroleum. AS mosquitoes, in their
early stages, are obliged to come to
the surface to breathe, and as a
touch of petroleum is fatal to them,
this method has been found to be
absolutely efficacious.
Now that it is known that the
mosquito is more than mere an
noyance-is, in fact. deadly foe
there is every reason why its en-
termination should be matter of
public policy. With the method of
prevention known, malaria and yell
low fever should become as infre-
quent as smallpox has been since
vaccination became general.