The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-20
MORE CURES FOR MOSQUITOES.
GREAT THINGS TOLD or 4 VA
RIETY OF BASIL IN INDIA.
Botanical Garden Here to Experiment win
It,-AIliance With Certain bacteria
Has Also Been Proposed -Reistions
Of Skeeters, Fruit and MALARIA.

Of Skeeters, Fruit ana "s'~ss'
The New York botanical Garden is about
IA teet the merits OF an alleged mosquito
extermipator and cure for malaria tha'
comes from India II ia the plant Known
as Krishna-tulsi, whose botanical name Is
Ocimum sdnctum. It. Is a near relative OIL
Ocimum riride, which was introduced 10
English totanists and scientists generally
early this year as highly obnoAons to
mo,uuit o,s. but which do not seem 10
have lived up o its reputation.
CAPT II. d. Larymore, r. A.. stationed at
Lokoja, northern Nigeria. carried spec'-
men OF Ocimum piride, which is one OF the
basiIs, all the way from Africa to England
and presented it 10 the Kew Gardens be-
cause he was convinced that II was detrl-
mental to MOSQUITOES.
Its scent resembles wild thyme and
eucalyptus and hedge OF it about house
ia an efrectual barrier against mosqult o's
while two or three growing plants placed
in room will quickly clear it OF the pests
ia the substance OF his Recommending ion OF
the plant.
Sir William Thistleton-Dyer. director OF
Kew Garden. at once began Investigations.
which, he says. appear to dispose con-
c,lsively of the plants possessing any real
protective value This conclusion was
largely based on the report OF DR.. W. /.
Prout regarding observations made at
Freetown. Sierre Leone.
DR.. Prout said that growing plants have
little or no effect in driving away mosque
toes. while fresh basil leaves have TO pref
judicial effect on them, even when in close
contact. He found that burnt basil had
supplying and eventually destructive
effect, BIZ, only VIII en- the air was so sat
urated with he fumes that no human being
could endure them.
Attention was called to the reputed viz
tues of the krishna-tulsi by a letter from
Sir George Birdwood, which was printed by
II. n. Ridley director of botanical gardens
and forests Of the federated Malay States.
in the agricultural Bulletin, of which he is
editor.
Sir George said that the anti-mosquito
plant he recommended was allied to basils,
which had been known for ages to HinGoos
In India as a deferce against mosque oes
and a prophylaetic in mahrial districts.
He described several variet les which grow
Wild in India and are also cultivated in
gardens The Krishna-tulsi is held in by
far the highest regard for the purposes in
dicated. A decoct ion Of the leaves and stem
Is universal medicine in India for malaria.
The krshns-tllsi is sacred 20 Vishnu.
and its origin is told in legend. Tulsi
was beaut iful maiden until she aroused the
jealousy Of Vishnu's wife. Lakshmi, who
transformed her into a plant, whereupon
Vishnu consecrated the plant to his service.
The Krishna-tulsi is planted before tenn
pies. the priests wear bracelets or armlets
and carry rosaries made from 8 roots and
branches, and Hndoos are sworn on water
Of the Ganges poured in their palms and
crossed by twigs of holy basil In further
India it is planted about graves, and the
Brahmans carry sprigs Of it at all funeral
ceremonies.
The strongest evidence OF the efficacy OF
the holy basil against disease as we'll as
mosquitoes was contained in Sir George
Birdwood's statement that the resident
gardeners and the transient workmen en-
ployed in establishing the Victoria Gardens
and the Albert Museum in Bombay suffered
greatly from both mosquitoes and malaria
and that the pest Of mosquitoes abated and
malaria ceased 10 develop after basil
had been planted extensively about the
gardens and buildings. This planting was
done upon the recommendation of the
Hindoo manager. The site had previously
been known as one of the most malarial in
Bombay.
NJ. Ridley supplemented Sir George
Bir,.wood's report with the statement
that he could not learn that the native
varieti les Of bas il had any reputation al
prophylactics, although Ill Of them had uses
ranging from cough mixtures and coolinl
drinks to fiavoring for foods. He had heel
una BILE to locate the holy basil on the PENN
sulo.
These tac.s have resulted in the determi
nation to investigate the merits of tn
Krishna -tulsi at the New York Botanica
Gardens upon the arrival Of plants or seed
which have been sent for. Meantime. othe
varieties OF basil which were procured b
George A. Skene. gardener in charge, ar
being cultivated in the nurs' ~ range.
II has also been suggested that expert
menrs with nitrfving and ammonia gener
ating bacteria as another source Of dc
struction to the mosquito be undertaken
but so far this line Of inquiry has bee
deemed too remote from ordinary lines
botanical research to be engaged in.
Vt is known that there il a large group {
such bacteria, and the question of the
cultivation as natural means OF fertilizin
the soil is occupying the attention of II
vestigators, As to their effect on mo-
ouitoes DR.. Arthur r. Waddell said in
recent communication to the Lancet thi
one part Of strong ammonia in four tholsa r
parts Of water was fatal TO mature mosqn
Larvae, which seem to justify the concl,lsic
that the addition Of nitrogen COMPOUND
TO surface water by the medium Of active
pitrifyine soils should check the multiple
tion OF mosquitoes =.
Finally Leut.-Col. Giles has direce
attention through the Indian Medical G.
sette to another phase Of the mosquito que
ton which may lead to some important r
suits There are certain localities whe
malaria and kindred diseases seem unal
to obtain a foothold, although conditio
apparently favor their development, al
the anopheles. the mosquito credited vi
Transmitting the malarial parasite to ma
sbounds
His letter includes he report OF DR., Sch'
who states that he found that the ahophe
we're fruit eaters and that II was almost il
possible 10 impregnate them with the n
laria parasite while they bad free acc'