Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1911-11-10

FRIDAY. November 10. 1911.
EXPERIMENTING THE MOSQUITO.

BhI llIFO I'LL mOOOOAAO'
Without questioning the ability of
science to exterminate the mosquito,
given the proper paraphernalia for
that purpose, we venture to suggest
that it vii not do to argue success in
Jersey and Long Island from the
achievements repoted from the 18TH
mus Of Panama. Contrary to the pre-
vailing superstition, the mosquito is
not at its best as regards numbers in
the tropics. The insect prevails there,
"a in Vera Cruz. Havana, Rio and
other far southern localities, but he
gets more numerous and more fero-
cious as one travels north. and in
Alaska and Siberia becomes and actua
menace to human life. To rid the
Canal Zone Of mosquitoes was easy
compared with the project of the
:ientists in this region.
On the Isthmus, in Vera Cruz, Ha-
vana and other tropical and semi-tropi-
cal districts the mosquito is seldom
seen in such vast clouds as in various
places near New York. The insect is
not nearly so numerous in the tropics
as in New Orleans. where some years
ago the local authorities triumphantly
announced its final determination and
where sequently it reappeared in
myriads. II is doubtful whether the
measures that seem to have been sue
cessful on the Isthmus, methods which
have never been relaxed for an in
siant. will bring about similar results
in these parts even if it be feasible
Il adopt and practice them. We do
lot believe that the system establish
ed by Colonel Gorgas in the Canal
Zone would be effective in this neigh
lorhood even if its application were
possible. He had comparatively few
mosquitoes to deal with. and unlimit-
g means at his disposal. We have
them not only in bewildering num-
bcrs, but Of mysterious origin and
habits.
There are many collateral fallacies
il connection with the mosquito.
One VIII solemnly announce to you
tat the mosquito cannot propagate
without water. Another will say
that it cannot move more than half
a mile. though that limit has been
extended lately to five miles. This
would 80 TO show that if you destroy
tie breeding places, abolish water bar
rris and tin cans and the like and per-
lnde every neighbor within a radius
Of five miles to adopt similar tactics,
You at least will be exempt. 1t isn't
true. We knew of houses that were
closed, say, on June / 1.-The water turn
el off. the screens put in and the
windows closed. These houses were
left in tn It condition until October.
NJ mosquitoes could get in or out.
Nevertheless when the premises were
thrown open four months later, mos
uitoes were there in greatly increased
numbers, doing business at the old
stand and making life torment as
before. A few years ago, after a
mosquito crusade in Orange, it was
boastfully announced that the pest had
been eliminated. The following year
mosquitoes appeared in countless
swans, and the leader of the once tri-
uuphant crusade fled forever from
the settlement and betook himself to
m )re promising neighborhoods.
Do we really understand the mos
quito? To base hypothesis upon the
alleged success of Colonel Gorgas in
Panama seems very profile natical
TIE local scientists say they can do
the trick if provided with the neces-
sary means, and possibly they may.
B It what assurance have we that their
postuiate is correct? How do we
know that the methods which appear
to have been successful in Panama
VIII fit the needs of this vicinity?-
NV York Sun.