The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-29

Premises Clean Of Empty Cans,
Bottles. ETC., i'm Which Rain Wa
ter May Collect, and Cisterns Pro-
tected.
Washington, July 22.-Surgeon
General Wyman, Of the public health
and marine hospital service, is CIV
ing some timely advice in this weeks
bulletin Of the service on the subject
OF the prevention ond destruction Of
the mosquito. He considers this one
of che most important matters tina:
could come before the people Of the
country at this time. and urgently
begs them to heed his advice.
The habit Of the mosquito In feed.
ing on the blood OF man and other
animals. the surgeon general says. the
irritating character Of its bite and the
more or less vague suspicion that It is
connected in some way with the prop
agation Of disease have always given
tho mosquito a certain and economic
significance. But the demonstration
OF the recent years Of the essential
part played by this insect in the
propagation Of filariasis. (elephantia-
sis.l malaria, yellow fever and dengue
--diseases which annually cause
much human suffering and many
deaths and. incidentally, an economic
loss appalling to contempiate-has
given great economic and sanitary
importance to the problem Of it's ex-
termination
The chief Of the mosquito tribe,
ard really the bad fellow of the bunch,
Ii the stegomyia calopas-the yellow
fever breeder-and he Is not only to
bs evoided but SLAIN without COM
puucson.
There are other varities. all OF
them tad. Of course. but that 5,st
mentioned is the worst Of all. and
usually where Il Is found trouble OF q
serious nature is 70 be looked tsr.
The adult insect may be carried T.,
considerable distances by the winds.
but OH Its own wings It does not or
dinarily travel outside Of . y&dius Of
half mile trom its breeding place
This means thHt the destruction Of all
breeding pfaoss within this radius OF
q habitatiOa Will practically rid It Of
all but thsse mosquitoes which filter
In or are brought in By the winds
from more Or less distant marshes.
The "wsxgletail" liz the uavae OF the
mosquito In the pupal stage. They
never breed In damp grass. weeds OF
bushes xs has been popuaarly suppos-
ed. but only hide In them during the
day. Trey delight to nve In old tin
cans. Bottles and brc1ksn crockery,
and In the garbage heap; In bucke*s,
tubs. Sarrels, cisterns xnd wells; ia
flower pots and saggisg roof CUTTERS;
In htrest and roadside puddles; IN
ditca'es. cesspools and sewers. As
long n people will csntinue to have
these convenient lodging places near
them. just SO long Will the mosquito
be fouIid.
The mosquito is something Of an
epicure While its general food con-
sists of vegetable Juices. unfortunate-
ly the 1emale in many cases has de-
veloped a taste for human blood, ana
indeed a feed Of human blood has be-
come Indispensable to some Of these
for the full development Of their eggs.
After the female has obtained her
feed OF blood she sOvn-from q day
or two 10 q week or Ten days-seeks
suitaSae breeding place; here she
deposits variable member Of eggs,
which. depending upon the species,
either nsat separately upon their
sides or appended and adhering to-
sether In irregular rart-1ike masses.
In day or two one may look for
the "wisgietail." The real work OF
exterminati"n should then begin IL
nothing has previously been done for
the "wiggletail' develops rapidly and
In few dayH the genuine mosquito is
on hand.
Stripped OF all technicalties. Gen.
Wyman has made plain just how ev-
cry person may exterminate the mos
quito. or at least help to do 80.
Natural collections OF water which
do or may serve as breeding places
should be drained. Where cisterns
or tanks are used they should be
provided with covers and they should