The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-27
FEVER MOSQUITOES VORAC|OUS FEEDERS Stegomyia FaSciata Returns Again and Again to Attack IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED Tobacco Smoke VIII Kill the Insects and Pyrethrum Powder Is Also
 Fatal-Rules For Yellow
 Fever Panic.
IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED
BY GUY WOODWARD ElNNEY.


 The yellow fever mosquito, known to the scientific world as the stegomyla fas- ciata, Is literally a messenger of death; transmitter of a disease as fatal in its effects as the devastating bubonic plague of the old world. That this mosquito of death carries in the almost invisible thrusts of it's tiny, needle-like bill the virus of that dread malady, yellow fever, has been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, and today thousands of dollars are being spent and the ablest men of science are waging their mightiest fight to bring about its extermination. This tiny death-dealing parasite has lulled many a sufferer to a last fever-laden sleep. and today, because of its existence. the city of New Orleans, the fairest of the gulf region, Is fighting for its life
 The cause of yellow fever has always been a mystery. and, indeed, Is a mys- tery today in a measure, since, although undoubtedly disease of parasitic origin, the parasite organism itself has not yet been discovered. The mosquito is the means of dissemination and infection. The disease-transfer relations of insects
 
 and study, but not until 1881, when Dr. Carlos Finlay of Havana advanced the theory of the mosquito being the agent or yellow fever transmission, was the fact clearly established. His views on the | subject were given widespread attention. and following this, during the summer of 19O2. a commission of surgeons of the United States army went to Cuba, where they demonstrated beyond the slightest doubt that yellow fever is not conveyed by the infected clothing of fever-stricken patients or by proximity to them but that 1t Is conveyed by this species of mos quito, known as stegomyia fasciata.
 pr. lessee w. Lazear, one of the mem- bers of the commission, and one of the most ardent advocates of the mosquito theory, allowed himself to be bitten by fever-inoculated mosquito and ded victim of his theory and in vindicaton of his science. After this there were others who risked their lives in the cause of science. some resulting in the speedy death of the subject of the experiment, while others recovered in time, but in every case 1t was proved conclusivey that this mosquito was the active agent of transmission. and against its exist ence the forces of science are now being directed.
 Party Sent to Mexico.
 Tn April, 1902, the public health and | marine service of the Treasury Depart ment directed a working party consist ing of Assistant Surgeon Herman B. Parker, Acting Assistant Surgeon George E. Beyer and O. L. Pothier, working in conjunction with the yellow fever insti- ute, to proceed to Vera Cruz. Mexico, and begin the investigation of yellow fever and diseases common to Mexico and the United States. Commodious quarters for hospital and laboratory pur- poses were secured and the investiga- tions began immediately. A number of prisoners from the jails of the mountain villages were secured with their full con sent and permission and were brought to Vera Cruz and placed in mosquito proof room for observation. They were young, healthy non-immunes, and offered excellent subjects for these experiments The day following their arrival two mos quitoes which had previously been per- mitted to feed on severe case of yef- low fever were allowed to bite them on the hands. In every instance the pa- tient developed a pronounced case of yellow fever which tended to prove the theory that the transmission of the fever was due to the bite of the mosquito. This commission terminated its work by the end of October and made the fol- lowing conclusions That the bacteriol- ogica1 examination of the blood of cases of yellow fever during life and the blood and organs at autopsy performed imme- diately after death is negative In uncom- plicated cases. That stegomyia fasciata, when contaminated by feeding on a case of yellow fever forty-one and a half hours after the onset of the disease, can when permitted to feed non-immune in dividual, p-oduce sever attack of the disease. That stegomyia fasciata, con- taminated by feeding on case of yellow fever. and after varying periods killed sectioned and appropriately stained, pre- sents with regularity a protozoan paras- ite That stegomyia fasciata fed on blood from a case of malarial fever, on normal blood. or artificially fed, does not harbor the pariste indicated in conclu- sion 3.
 The fatality of the bite of the Stegom- via fasciata being known, the natural questions arise as to the life and habits of this parasitic pest, where he abounds principally and what are the surest means of his extermination.
 Is Widely Distributed.
 This mosquito Is widely distributed, probably more than any other species, heinz found throughout the tropical world