New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-06
rHT ON MOSQUITOES.
notv Tells of Various Methods
He Found Necessary.

Ia. n, The determination OF the
A spe's health officer A II. Doty is one OF
sacrito s.,,,res Of the current issue Of The
y lsaaNs, r-,sl Of the Medical Sciences" Apart
srs1iosi -.~r,lar duties Dr. Doty has given con-
30 ~ ,i,ae TO the problem OF DISCRIMINATING the
s'sa IN staten Island his crusade against
-assuiio =. bsen remarkably successful. and with
y pssi - ~ municipal appropriations for I'LL
e $50 s,vau7p lands he has largely accom-
s. his purpose
Ss''. sytiole DR.. Doty says In part;
h" ,-,,.s,.eation Of the mosquito has shown
cSsfui i,-fs t1pes OF this insect differ In their
ii propagation, sab a familiar e5e ,1 Te hs
sssssssst.ssmuch as the means by which the mos
Sc l ..Sv be eXterminated depend largely upon
-.to -. - WITH which we have 10 deal
X SArieS -,snee II our present knowledge regard
he mI,sx soiiicitans VIII be better appreciated
n ne 49, - live along the Atlantic coast and
n hose Ns3sntly subjected to the annoyance of
80 sf e eTI-' of the mosquito during the warm
Us Eei /, Is q well known fact that the enor-
rsine,is az soncitans present has seriously
rCs NJ Nth the Development of certain sections
r1eIeu s+lsntio coast. Before its breeding place
srg ne = known efforts TO prevent its propa
IS ue lie confined 20 the same means which are
80 70 exerinate the eule1 punge ;Ts anopneleSs
90 s.'ons csterns, rain water barrels ana other
iE'sss..gies We now know that such methods as
r.. are practically useless IN the externnnaton
thse Sss,1iIrifsns and il is only by the proper
q - ~ salt water swamp lands along the
ars-ssbat the propagation or TINS variety can De
c0asl ~ The use Of oil I'm the determination Of
Trsle.se-v al mosquito, even temporary meas
Us "a - lffle or no value Although the solicit
CE ssoosfs lis eggs on the ground in the swamps.
81 s-i5--0t deVeiGp without water and, II accu-
&C.,. G- 81 surface water is prevented by drain
naia.. .a,srsfiof ceases. This has already been
e ll--sliiy demonstrated in some Of the New
s1tesal-lI;. ---ter svysulus which were impossible
lf.sea tslfv infested with mosquitoes. These have
- s.,tv beer 6itched ana drained ana TINS year
- PRODUCING crops of hay, which are harvested
l. ~, ms practically disappeared IN the sections
- +rasted Work Of a similar character is now
g. Fe1a md Ct and
llsssnty expected that next year viii prove the
---sSs ii this work.
y l -Ire.ns and other fresh water or in
- raas6uitoes il Is imperative that the public
.--ls he Instructed not only IN regard 10 the ne
.s.fg for drainage and filling in where land de-
..se.ons exist but also the Importance or re-
rsrng 50 far as possiole from aNetlng houses sLG
rser Buildings and about the premises az SORTS ol
~rsL glass and wooden receptacles which contain
sgffr and whcl may act as Freezing places. ms
.Irr has been carried out during the past summer
Connection with the mosquito work on Staten
sand About ten thousand circulars were distrih-
81 throughout the residential portion OF the Isl
~ giving general Information IN regard TO tdS
-osouito. ifs breeding places and the means Dy
~tich il may be eXterminated. The result mas
ssEn that mis- method Of securing the co-opera-
az the public is practical and successful. CiS-
r-s and rain water barrels contribute largely
-srs tie rropagafiou of the Culex pungens If
m modern means of securing water cannot be
-sS-ir-rres these raceOracles should be supplied
III tight fitting covers, the centre OF which may
INSTRUCTED Of wire netting TO admit air. Roof
sasrs should be kept properly graded; otherwise
rs Of them may act breeding places. II
r5and depressions either about the premises or in
= neighborhood cannot be drained or filed in
TTuleum oil may be used as a temporary measure
II crude petroleum. Of which the so-called Lima
IS type, is probably superior TO the refined
and should be used in proportion of one pint
al 10 water cl:rface Of about twenty feet in
alneter- Even less amount OF oil may be eff
+Tive. This procedure should be repeated every
20 weeks. The method by which the oil de-
gr0ys the larNa7 or 'wleglers, IS probably not by
4 toxC effect. but by mechanical one. The Larvae
rust come the surface Of the water for air every
-1ute or two II watched carefully. II viii be
,5aosd that the culex approach the surface Of the
TslH az right angles, with the tail uppermost and
usnGed somewhat above the surface the air being
.Esn IN al this end. The anopheles Larvae may be
distinguished AT this stage for the reason that
hy do moi lie al right angles 10 the surface Of the
uifr. but underneath and parallel 10 il. and re-
we the air in the same manner. although appar-
Eay BY projecting the head above the water, IN
read n the tail. II is probable that the oil thrown
The surface obstructs the delicate respiratory
T7zratus ~ the larvR and rapidly suffocates them
Is is largely cOrroborated by experiments.