New-York tribune., 1907-04-16
MOSQUITO EXTERMINATTOY.

In its latest monthly bulletin the New York
State Board OF Health calls fresh attention TO
law which was passed last year. and which
is not yet so well known as II might be. This
provides that whenever it shall be decided by
the local sanitary authorities that any accu-
mutation OF water in which mosquitoes breed
is menace TO health they may suppress or
remove il at the expense Of the owner Of the
property on which the nuisance exists.
The season for most successfully exercis-
ing the powers here granted Is now at hand
and the benefit which they are designed 10
confer on the public will depend largely upon
the pronptness OF the steps taken 10 secure
II. Soon after the advent OF vernal temper
atures which may now be expected almost any
day, such female mosquitoes as have survived
the winter will begin laying eggs. These in
sects multiply with extraordinary rapidity II
no check is put on the increase, the progeny
Of q single mosquito which rsvives in April
Will number hundreds or thousands of mill
ions by September. Never had the wisdom Of
the stitch In time" policy more forcible Illus
tration than In warfare mosquitoes and on
those diseases whose germs they are known
10 convey from the sick TO the we'll In this
state yellow fever is unknown. but malaria
is only too common. though not distributed uni
fOrmly, and the suppression Of the latter dis
order, II is now believed by progressive medl-
cal men, can be effected only by suppressing
particular genus Of mOsquito-the anopheles
while permanent protection can be insured
by getting rid Of its breeding places
Public health Is not the only considera ton.
however, demanding relentless crusade against
mosquitoes The worst that can be charged
against the majority of them is that they are ex-
cesSively annoying. They seriously interfere with
the comfort Of people. Localities which they
bo1
residence or diversion, and even for certain
kinds OF business. Professor John b. Smith. Off
cial entomOlogist of New Jersey, estimates that
the value OF property in that state would be in
creased at least SIO,O00.OOO by the exterminstio,
of mosquitoes there The expert lust mentioned
discusses the subject in The PoDular Science
Monthly" for April, and emphasizes the prin-
ciple that movements having determination in
view possess economic importance. BY way of
illustration he specifies a town in which such
a reform undertaken by n local ImDrove-
ment society, without other compulsion than
self-interest. When the work was finished n
large number Of newcomers were led To buv
lots and build cottages, and one landowner
told Professor Smith that the change had hem
Gifted him fully $4,000. This and other in.
stances which can be cited demonstrate CON
clusively that in places which have suffered
greatly from the pest in question its abolI-
ton is attended with distinct pecuniary advan-
tages
Furthermore, it has now been shown that
mosquitoes seldom either fly or drift with the
wind very far from their birthplace As has
already been remarked, if a region in which
malaria has prevailed is once free from faclli-
ties for Matching the eggs of the anopheIes.
1t becomes free, except at infrequent intervals.
from the distributors of the disease The rule
holds good with other mosquitoes also. This
assertion is not based on guesswOrk but on prac-
tical experience. Whatever be the motive which
inspires the war, therefore. there is ample as
surance that, IL properly conducted, It's effects
will be lasting