The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1905-08-25

ton of fevers may not, although now
unknown, be conveyed to the human
through the mosquito acting as
means nf transmission. These scien-
tific facts should not be pooh poohed or
ignored by the people. They are not
only worthy Of thought but Of delibe-
rate and careful needing. A single
female mosquito will lay a sufficient
number of eggs ina water pitcher in
an unused bed room to not only fill
the house with her offsprings but sup
ply the neighbors within the radius Of
the square. So too will old cans lying
about the yards, or saucers Of orna-
mental pot plants, and receptacles
which ofttimes a careful house wife
sets the table legs in to escape the
sugar or other sweets ravages OF ants,
supply a breeding place for millions Of
mosquitoes. Standing water Of any
kind whether fresh or brackish, will
afford the female mosquito an oppor-
tunity to propagate her species, for
she must have water to lay her eggs in
or upon. No water, no mosquitoes,
may therefore, be accepted as an
axiom.
IL therefore each citizen OF Florida
will constitute himself or herself a
mosquito destroyer, by looking after
little details Of mosquito propagation,
the mosquito pest will be considerably
lessened in the State, and particularly
in that portion of the State where ar
tesian wells are plentiful and rain
water is not required for portable pur-
poses. Where brick cisterns or wood
en- anks are required to store rain
water. the female mosquito can be
prevented from depositing her eggs
therein by screening the cistern or
tank with air gauge mesh, 10 to inch.
and by using kerosene oil in small
quantities on the surface Of the water,
say about teaspoonful to about 10
square feet of water surface. The
wire screening will prevent the de-
posting of eggs, and kerosene oil will
prevent the Matching out of any
which may have gotten into the tank
as the "wigglers" cannot get to the
surface to breathe, and consequently
will die.
Attention to mosquito prevention
and destruction will lessen and in
time effectually rid a community Of
malarial reputation. So too will a
hinderinh of mosquitoes prevent yell
low fever from spreading, where the
particular species Of mosquitoes which
convey yellow fever exists and are
abundant. No one should sleep and
particularly at night where mosque
toes exist never mind of what species,
without a net, and care should be TAX
en- to see that no mosquitoes have got
ten into the net after IL has been
lowered about the bed
The malarial mosquito aud the yell
low fever mosquito do their work Of
infection after O'Clock in the after
noon and before daylight the next
morning in other words, during the
hours of darkness and semi-darkness.
II this fact IS remembered and little
care taken never mind what the allu-
vial condition may be or what the
miasma an escape can be had from MAJ
larial infection or from yellow fever
infection IL attention is paid to mos
quito generation, in preventing their
breeding. when individuals happen in
a-country or community where these
two diseases may be prevailing.
These hints to keep well during the
summer season are cast upon the soil
Of public thought and reason, with
the hope that some may heed and that
this additional effort OF the State
Health Authorities may result IN saw
ing life and in much personal and in
diyudal comfort.
Joseph Y. Porter,
State Health officer.