The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-06-21
FIGHT THE MOSQUITOES.
"a Few Precautions That VIII Keep
Them From BOthering Westminster.

The public has the power to free
itself from the annoyance of insects
this Summer, according to statement
issued by the Philadelphia Depart
ment of Public Works which pledges
itself to the fullest cooperation with
the Department OF Public Health and
Charities in the determination of mo-
squitoes, but adds that after ali Ifttle
can be done unless the public gives
Ito assistance.
tn the statement Director Cooke
says:
The comprehensive plans we are
formulating aim at the ultimate elm
ination OF mosquitoes. The engineer
ing problems can hardly be solved In
time to make these plans fully effec-
tive for the coming Summer. Much
OF the nuisance, however, can b. elm
mated if citizens will fully cooper
ate and take some simple precautions,
as there is nothing miraculous about
mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes breed in Stagnant wa
ter. They have small power Of flight,
and those that annoy you are bred
within short distance of your house.
Instead OF wasting aromatic sticks
and wondering where the mosquitoes
come from, if you would look into
your back yards or those of your
neighbors, you would probably find
the source of annoyance, which could
be easily prevented.
"A little water standing in buckets,
tubs, saucers, flower pots, broken bits
OF crOckery and drains in the yard
caves OF roofs, etc., all become breed
ing places for mosquitoes
"One neglected tin can can breed
enough mosquitoes to render unhappy
the lives of those in an entire city
block.
1.-THE female mosquito lays her eggs
on water, and these hatch out in one
day into larvae, commonly called
Twrigglers,' for the existence of which
air is necessary, and is taken in
through a breathing tube, which is
thrust through the surface Of the
water. The use Of oil upon stagnant
water prevents the 'wriggler' from OBJ
tanning the necessary amount of air,
and in that way produces death. In
from seven to fourteen days, accord
ing to circumstances, these 'wrigg-
lers'change in form and become pupae
or what are commonly known as tum-
blers.' After two to five days the
adult mosquito appears the entire
period taking from ten days, in the
minimum, to twenty days, in the max
imum.
bitches and ponds holding stagnant
water should be drained or filled, and
where it is impracticable, ordinary
kerosene should be used. This, to
be effective, should b. renewed once
In ten days.
1T is not too much to say that il
every citizen ceased to help on the
breeding of mosquitoes by affording
them vessels of stagnant water and
little pools in the pavement OF their
yard or garden, as the breeding
ground, that this alone would reduce
the mosquito pest in Philadelphia
during the Summer time in the most
amazing way, even lie nothing were
done on a large scale.
THE secret of mosquito fighting, as
with the secret OF fly fighting. IL to
destroy their breeding places; and to
a large extent the destruction OF
these places is in the hands of every
one. Each neighborhood may b. said
TO b. plagued by its own mosquitoes
and the invasion from a distance is
so secondary a factor that it may be
ignored in the city campaign"