The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27


which one OF them has either fed upon
malarial patient or upon some form of de-
cayed matter which contained germs Of ma
laria and later has bitten an individual
MANY people wonder how the mosquito
carries maarial poison in its bite. 1t does
this BY means Of its saliva being injected
into the bite through the probOscis. The
mosquito eats the malarial germs. which
pass into its stomach. and these germs in
crease In number and distribute themselves
through the entire body OF the mosquito
including the salivary glands, and are thus
discharged with the saliva during the bite
The malaria which the mosquito injects
into the body Of a person cannot be
checked as can irritation caused by its bite.
This irritation. which causes some people
much annoyance when sitting out of doors
during summer evenings, can easily be
cOmbated BY very simple remedies. It is
caused by the acid which is created and
injected into the mosquito bite. and can
be easily overcome by the application of
alkalies. such as spirits of ammonia
common baking soda mixed with water. So
highly susceptible are some people 70 the
bite OF a mosquito that strong medical ap-
plications have to be used to counteract
this irritant poison
this city convey poisonous germs?" DIR.
Foxworthy was asked. and he replied:
mo There only two kinds of mosqui-
toes found around here, and one Of these is
perfectly harmless. This is called the cuex
The kind, however. that transmits maIari-
al fever and the one that every one should
avoid is known as the anOpheles. This mos
quito is covered with stripes and in some
countries is called the tiger mosquito. This
insect works by day well by night.
and makes very little noise Its buzzng is
Of low pitch. and often the first intima-
tiOn Of its approach is the irritation caused
by its bite In the Orient this mosquito is
so small that the mosquito bars used must
be OF the most finely woven cloth to keep
Il out of the houses. In alighting on the
ceiling Of ones room it permits it's body to
hang down at right angles TO the ceiling;
while the harmless variety attaches itself
with all it's feet and has its body parallel
with the ceiling. The harmless variety also
has shrill. high-pitched buzz; so it is not
always the mosquito that makes the loud
est noise whose bite is the worst.
ONE INVESTIGATOR DIED.
''There is another variety of mosquito
which is not found here. but is prevalent in
the tropical countries. This is the one that
q
United States army surgeons has been in
vestigating yellow fever for the last three
years and finds that it is transmitted in
the same fashion as is malarial fever. This
disease. which is held in such dread in the
South, is conveyed by the bite of the mos
quito which has previously fed on a yellow
fever patient. The investigating board lost
one OF it's members. DIR. Lazear, on account
OF his experimental work. He was bitten
by one Of his mosquitoes which had fed on
a fatal case of this dreadful disease The
heroism displayed by these men and their
assistants who voluntarily risked their
lives TO prove that yellow fever germs were
conveyed by mosquitoes was remarkable
when one stops TO consider 1t. The conclu-
sions, however, which were reached by this
board arc invaluable in the preventive
treatment of the fever, in that they prove
definitely that il was not conveyed from
one person to another by clothing or con-
tact; that house may be infected with it
and yet is only capable of conveying its in
lection to people by the means of the mos
quito. 1t seems strange, but it takes
IcS Hs>for yeiloT~fever TO mature in
the body of the mosquito In other words
mosquito bite does not convey the fever
until two weeks have elapsed since it has
Fed on patient suffering with the fever.
There are undoubtedly other diseases
besides yellow fever and malariaI fever
which are transmitted by the mosquito.
English and American army surgeons. and
also some physicians in the employ of the
Italian government, are still studying the
mosquitoes, and eventually they may find
that other fatal diseases. such as cholera
and bubonic plague. conveyed by them.
On ha xvho TOr
worthy. 1.-The mosquito is probably as we'll
known household pest as the ordinary
househy. 1t is undoubtedly known at night.
when it puts itself very much in evidence
The mosquito does not limit its habitation
10 any one country, and travellers in the
tropics are often irritated TO such an ex-
tent that travelling by day is annoyance
and sleep at night an impossibility. Even
in that paradise of the east, Honolulu, our
rest was severely disturbed each night by
the mosquito chorus, whose humming was
heard until daylight. And in the far north,
during the summer time, the goldminers Of
Alaska annoyed by this noisome pest.
Mosquitoes have long been the means of
giving countries a reputation for fevers,
but until recently the proper acknowledge
ment has never been made TO this insect.
in Central America. for years, one part of
it has been known the Mosquito Coast,
ON account of the great numbers that were
found there. From time immemorial the
Roman Camyagna has been characterized
as the worst malarial region in the world
And it has been shown that the cause of
this condition is the mosquito. In certain
portions of Africa so annoying is this in
sect and TO such an extent has its pro-
boscis elongated that clothing is no pro-
lection and ofttimes the unfortunate ma
lives are compelled to bury themselves in
the sand, leaving only enough of their faces
exposed as is necessary for respiration.
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
In the Philippine islands they have the
tiger variety. but it is much smaller than
those seen in this country. In fact. some of
them are small as a gnat and have a
proboscis so exceedingly penetrative as to
bite through the clothing worn by the sol
niers. II was strange that these mosquitoes
gave more trouble in the daytime than
at night. In order to read with any degree
of comfort II was necessary for US 10 wear
heavy leather gloves on our hands and a
thick veil over our faces. So dangerous did
these insects become that a general order
was issued in one Of the districts by the
general commanding that every precaution