Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03
THE WAY OF ESCAPE
KILL THE MEANS OF YELLOW
FEVER INFECTION.

NO MOSQUITOES, no yellow IeNer, Is
/ the fiat-footed declaration of the marine
hospital service in an important circular
| that is now being printed to issue to the
public. 1t is proposed to send out thou
sands of these circulars in the states likely
to become affected by the disease and
postmasters and others will be asked to
post circulars where the public can see
them
In big. black type the circular begins with
this statement:
The infection of yellow fever Is car
RED by mosquitoes. and by no other
means is the infection spread
Persons take the disease by being bit
ten by mosquitoes that have previously
bitten yellow fever patient.
The mosquitoes to become infected
must bite yellow fever patient during
the first three days Of his attack. These
first three days. therefore. are the most
| important time for preventing the access
of mosquitoes to fever patient.
1T is often difiicult to decide during the
first three days whether patient has yell
low fever; hence the necessity in threat
ened communities of placing MOSQUITO
bar Immediately around every patient
who has fever OF any kind. and for three
days at least"
Instructions as to Screens.
Then follow instructions as to screening:
The netting used should have meshes fine
enough to prevent the passage of mos
Quitoes Cat least 1870 meshes to the inch).
1t is important to screen the windows and
doors of the house. 1t Is doubly important
to screen the beds Of fever patients.
Mosquitoes can bite through mosquito nets
when any part of the patients body Is in
contact with the netting.
Frequent examinations should be made to
see that there are no torn places In the net
ting or that no mosquitoes have found a
lodgment inside.
The netting should be we'll tucked in 10
keep mosquitoes from entering.
If mosquitoes are found within the netting
they should be killed inside and not merely
driven or shaken out
All cases of fever should be promptly re-
ported to the local health officer. Awaiting
his arrival they should be covered with
mosquito bar.
Prevention and Destruction.
The circular has the following informa-
ton regarding the habits and life of the
mosquito and methods Of destroying the
insect:
Mosquitoes live in the vicinity in which
they breed. They do not often fly long
distance.
Mosquitoes breed only in water-usually
in artificial collections of fresh water.
Inc young mosquito. or wriggler lives In
water at least seven to twelve days.
Although the wrigglers live in water, they
must come frequently to the surface to
breathe.
Coal oil on the surface Of the water pre-
vents the wrigglers from breeding.
Destroy the breeding places and you will
destroy the mosquitoes.
Empty the water from all tubs. buckets,
cans. flower pots, vases. once every forty
eight hours.
Fill or drain all pools, bitches, untitled
posthoes and the like.
Change regularly every day all water
needed in chicken coops. kennels, etc.
Treat with coal oil all standing water
ryhi ob 10
ounce of oil will cover fifteen square feet
of surfaced. The oil does not affect-the
water for use If the water is drawn from
below.
Where OIL is applied to standing water it
must be distributed evenly over the surface.
Put fine wire netting over cisterns, wells
and tanks of water in everyday use.
Places in which 1t Is undesirable to put
oil, such as watering troughs for stock, lily
ponds, and forth, can be kept free from
wrigglers by putting in goldfish or min
nows.
Clean away all weeds. grass and bushes
about bitches, ponds and other possible
breeding places, since these afford hiding
place for the mosquitoes.
Clean up vacant lots and back yards OF all
cans, tins, bottles and rubbish.
First do away with, or treat all places
where mosquitoes are known to breed ana
then begin to work on places where they
might breed.
Inspect and treat with coal oil cutters,
culverts. bitches. manholes. catching basins.
etc, along the roadside. Manhole covers
should be screened.
Houses should be cleared of mosquitoes by
burning one pound Of insect powder or two
pounds of sulphur to 1000 cubic feet of
space The mosquitoes will fall to the floor,
and should be collected and burned.
Success in mosquito destruction depends
upon the cooperation Of the members of
the entire community.
While the infection Of yellow fever Is
carried by a single species Of mosquito (the
Stegomyia), to insure its destruction 1t Is
necessary to destroy all mosquitoes.
In places liable to yellow fever both indi-
viduals and communities have an effective
method Of protecting themselves, as indi-
Gated above Use the mosquito bar at once
over all cases of fever until the danger
from yellow fever has passed. Destroy all
mosquitoes.