The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-07-30


that it was prevalent in swampy re-
gions where humid vapors arose after
SHUTDOWN and he who went out at night
was in danger of inhaling the miasm
of malaria But in 1884 Mr.. Laveran, a
French Physician. stationed in Algeria,
discovered an organism in the blood OF
maIariaI patients which he called the
plasmodium malariar. 1t is unneces-
sarv to relate the laborous researches
that followed the announcement of this
discovery but which have established
beyond cavil that this protocol is the
actual cause OF malaria until mo
piasnodfum no malaria" is now
medical axiom. Then came the Ques-
ton how the plasmodium gained an
entrance into the human body and this
was solved in time just as positively
by the brainy men who were devoting
their energies to the problem 1t was
found that the anopleles mosquito was
the particeps criminis. The protocol
was traced with the most minute pre-
cision through the body of this mos
quito from one human host to another.
The proof was so convincing that
no one could doubt it. Fortunately for
us Mr. Van Dine has not discovered
this species in these islands which ac-
counts for the fact that we do not see
the usual types of malaria here.
But there is another disease more
formidable than malaria which has
been proven to be spread by another
mosquito. 1 refer to yellow fever. The
stegonyia faciata is the propagation of
this disease and our ordinary day
mosquito, the one who wears the
striped trousers is the culprit
The brilliant Investigations of the
Medical Commission of the u. 8. Army
in Havana in 1900-1901 based upon
theory advanced by DR.. Carlos Finley
in 1881 proved conclusively that yellow
fever was spread by the stegogmyia
faciata and a campaign of extermina-
ton based upon these Investigations
rid the city of it's scourge for the first
time in its history.
Prof. Harris Graham of Beyreut,
Syria, conducted similar experiments
with the dengue in 1901 and determin-
ed that it was spread by means of the
culex, the common night mosquito. BY
protecting dtngue fever patients from
mosquitoes he was able to prevent the
spread of the disease amongst other
associates of the patients.
This was negative evidence. The
positive evidence consisted in taking
culex mosquitoes that had fed upon
dengue patients to upland villages that
had never known the disease allowing
them to bite healthy subjects who had
not been otherwise exposed and devel-
oping the disease in these persons at
the end of five or six days.
Elephantiasis, a disease that does not
vitality concern us here. is caused by
a small parasite in lymph channels
the filaria hominis, and this organism
has been traced in mosquitoes by DR..
Patrick Manson, an English physician,
who has done much toward solving
many of the problems connected with
malaria and other tropical and sub
tropical diseases
The lesson We have to learn from all
this is that the mosquito is a danger
Gus insect to have about and that it
is possible by persistent and concerted
effort to exterminate it as has been
done in many localities besides Ea-
vana.
LARNACH's GREAT WORK,
One of the most interesting features
OF the meeting was the report of A D. |
Larnach, who had charge of the sys-
tematic campaign against mosquitoes,
in which the effective results showing
diminished number of the pests was
shown. He spoke as follows:
I beg to report on the organization |
and work of the Citizens Mosquito |
Committee, from the Inauguration of |
the movement to date. As an introduce
ton, few general remarks will not be
ou- of order.
For years past many districts in
these Islands, practically all at the
lower levels, have suffered from the
almost continuous presence of swarms
of mosquitoes. Just as continuous
have been the efforts of the people of
this Territory to protect themselves
from the torment of these pests. The
general practice has formerly been to
gain relief by protection from the
adult. The remedies as you know con-
sisted of the screening of houses. and
the burning of bCbach, or insect pow
der.
Investigation along the line of mos
quito determination, demonstrated at
least ten years ago that these are not
proper remedies for the mosquito nul-
sance. The generally accepted remedy
consists of various methods directed
entirely against the breeding places of
this insect, and the success of these
is due to the absolute fact,
thar mosquitoes during their young
stage, are truly aquatic, and require
water in which to breed
Recognizing this fact many commun-
ties throughout the United States have
gained relief, and demonstrated beyond
doubt the feasibility of Kidding any
infested locality of the null
sance.
The results of work of this character
prove conclusively that for any com
nunity or country to submit to the
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