Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-02

| Mosquitoes are regarded by DR. william
C. Woodw ard. health oficer OF the Dis.
trict. and other health authorities as the
only real malarial fever carriers
DR.. Woodward believes IL there were no
| mosquitoes there would be little. X any.
malarial fever. He also believes IL there
were no standing or stagnant water
| there would be no mosquitoes.
DR.. Woodward is actively engaged IN.
| vestigating the prevalence OF malaria in
the city and making an effort to check
its spread and at the same time do some
thing toward reducing the prevalence OF
mosquitoes. Because OF insufficient funds
at his disposal his department IL prevent
ed from engaging in any real up-to-date
war on these pests. With small force and
limited means he nevertheless Is having
several small ponds in the city either
filled or sprinkled with kerosene as q
means to destroy mosquitoes breeding
places.
Menace to Health.
The sting of a mosquito is looked upon
by DR.. Woodward as extremely danger
Gus to health. A mosquito sting is gen.
orally highly poisonous and should be
given careful and immediate treatment.
Mosquitoes are also great typhoid fever
and yellow fever carriers as well as ma
larial fever carriers.
DR.. Woodward will send out q public
notice instructing persons how to scien-
tifcally care for mosquito bites. Accord
ing to DR.. Woodward. household ammonia
has been found to give relief A single
touch OF alcohol is a valuable remedy.
Glycerine is also sovereign cure. Some
bites have been cured by rubbing with
indigo.
Compared with other cities situated on
streams Of water. as Is Washington. this
city is not particularly infested with mos.
Quitoes.
II would neither call the conditions
here good or bad" DR.. Woodward said.
III 1t were not for the Anacostia fats
and the low marshes along the Anacostia
river in the northeast section OF the city
No Malaria Statistics.
Unlike most contagious diseases. ma.
laria cases do not have to be reported to
the health office. The ONCE has no way
of accurately determining the prevalence
Of the disease.
DR.. Woodward. asked about the preva-
lence Of malaria, today said that while
aware many are treated for the disease,
he is satisfied conditions are much i'm.
proved compared with several years ago
before the Potomac nats were filled and
prior to other sanitary improvements In
certain sections Of the city where the
mosquitoes had breeding places. He stat
ed that. despite these improvements, the
mosquitoes still menace the community,
and every means to exterminate them
should be taken.
He said the pamphlet recently published
by the Richmond health department on
the mosquito question offers some prac.
ticable and sensible advice how to reduce
the breeding OF mosquitoes and the spread
Of malaria. He said the pamphlet also
has q list OF directions that he declares
should be closely followed.
Advice From Richmond.
The first sentence in this pamphlet is:
Besides being an intolerable nuisance.
mosquitoes are the only means by which
malarial lever is carried" The paper
further says:
Besides the actual pain and discom.
future caused by the bite OF a mosquito.
the bearing Of their presence upon the
health OF the people Is now being admit.
ted by all sanitary authorities.
Mosquitoes cannot breed without wa.
ter. The first necessity. then. for the
breeding Of mosquitoes 10 q collection of
ones back yard or a rain barrel up to q
pond of water will answer.
standing water is an absolute neces.
sity for the multiplication OF mosquitoes
as the eggs are ldl0 IN water ana the
larvae and pupae must live In water
Mosquitoes in this section of the
country remain during their life near the
place Of their birth. They do not ny
far and. seeking protection during wind
storms, they are seldom blown any dis
lance. For this reason. II you are trou.
bled by mosquitoes. you may be sure there
is some breeding place near at hand.
probably within a block"
AS a means OF exterminating mosquitoes
ravilv 10 ted N,
let that all stagnant pools and ponds be
filled: that weeds be cut and that back
yards be cleaned OF rubbish. tin cans.
wash water. etc.
lone quart of kerosene oil is sufYicient
to form a film over a pool twenty feet In
diameter. 1t should be sprinkled or
sprayed over as large part OF the pool
as can be reached.
Regular application OF kerosene oil
once a week during the summer and fall
will therefore be certain to prevent any
breeding Of mosquitoes In the pools so
treated.