Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-08-15
Fig. 2.
CULEX
Fig. 1.
ANOPHELES

(Malarial Mosquito.) Common Mosquito)
Malaria was known to the ancients
and as early as 500 B. C. the relation
between marshes and swamps and
malaria was recognized. Until very
recently it was believed that the dis
ease was usually contracted by breath
ing bad, or miasmatic, air from marsh
es and stagnant pools, but in 1880
French army surgeon, named Laveran,
discovered the parasite which causes
the disease, and in 1898, Ross, of Eng
land, proved that these parasites are
carried by the malarial mosquito. This
disproved the bad air theory.
May Breed Almost Anywhere.
Furthermore, the malarial mosquito
does not have to come from a swamp.
1t can breed in your own attic, or
your cellar, or your stable. The first
time it happens to bite SOMEBODY who
is already suffering from the disease,
it sucks up a quantity of the malarial
parasites, which breed in its body.
Then, when it subsequently bites other
healthy persons 1t transmits these par
asites to them.
The malarial mosquito Is pre-emi-
nently a house creature, scarcely ever
seen in the woods or open, but present
in great numbers in dark corners of
rooms or stables in all malarial local
tiles. This mosquito bites only in the
dark 1t then goes back to some dark
corner where it remains quiescent for
48 hours, at the, end of which time it
again descends to feed. Contrary to
general opinion, mosquitoes bite many
times and frequently remain alive for
months, sometimes throughout the en-
tire winter.
The malarial parasites which the
mosquito has sucked up breed in its
body and make their way to its venom
gland. Then they are injected into the
body of the person whom the mosquito
bites, just as poison is injected by the
bite of a snake. After they get into
the human blood. the parasites attack
the red blood cells and multiply with
incredible rapidity. Then the new
subject of the disease becomes
source of danger to others through the
Intervention of still other malarial
mosquitoes.
Importance of Screens.
1t is therefore obvious, says the
State Board of Health, that the way
to avoid malaria is to screen houses so
that mosquitoes cannot enter them.
Persons in malarial districts should
not sit on open porches at night, and
should be careful to sleep under prop
erly constructed nets. If a home is
protected adequately against mosqui-
toes, there is absolutely no danger of
catching the disease. 1t can be trans
mitted in no other way.
Persons who already have the dis.
ease should be equally careful not to
be bitten by mosquitoes, as every mos
quito which bites them becomes a
source OF danger to other people. 1t
is furthermore their duty to have the
disease treated vigorously under the
direction of a competent physician
In malarial districts many children
have malaria without showing symp-
toms; If they are allowed to sleep
without being covered by a net, they
may infest larger number of malarial
mosquitoes. The blood of children in
malarial localities should be from time
to time examined. and II the parasites
be found they-should be treated until
ayecure is effected.
The State Board of Health calls
particular attention to the fact that al
most all negroes In malarial localities
harbor the parasites, though very few
of them show symptoms of their pres
ence. 1t is therefore very important
that they be treated properly, and
their white neighbors should see to It
for their own safety that they do not |