El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-24

ton Of water in vessels or pools which
might afford a breeding place. It is
quite possible for a beer bottle, thrown
IN a corner by careless tourist, to
accumulate enough water in a sum-
mer shower to breed thousands Of mos
quitOs within a few days. A Veritable
plague of mosquitoes has been traced
TO case of empty beer bottles al
lowed to remain uncovered in a back
yard in the summer.
Drainage of Marshes Effective.
The drainage OF marshland. both IN
New Jersey and California, has been
found most effective in reducing the
ScOurge and improving the sanitary
conditions of the states. In slightly
marshy grounds. the foot prints of
horses and cattle may breed moSQui-
toes and the men in charge of the pub
lie roads are spraying all such depres-
siOnS with a germicide or low grade
of kerosene The use Of kerosene has
been found to be one of the best rene
dies for the spread of mosquitoes It
is sprayed upon the surface Of stand
ing waters, as well as upon the
swampy lands. A thin film or scum
Of irridescent hue is formed by The
oil. This not only destroys larvae and
pupae, but will kill any adult mosquito
which alights upon the surface Of the
water.
Mosquitoes Cause of Malaria.
The fact that all malarial districts
were infected with mosquitoes, did
not connect the mosquitoes with the
cause OF the malady until a compare
lively recent period, although now the
theory generally is accepted that GER
tain species Of mosquitoes unquesuOn-
ably are instrumental in spreading the
disease. DR.. Ronald Ross, OF the Liver
pool school Of Tropical Medicine, is
credited with first discovering the re
latiOn between mosquitoes and ma
laria, nearly Is years ago in India
His results soon were confirmed by
the rest Of the world and opened a
new medium for overcoming a maladV
that seriously interferes with the de-
velOpment of many localities. The
lands of Of the Delta region of the
Mississippi are among the most fertile
in the world, yet they have been large
" left undevelOped because of the pre-
valence Of malaria which prevented oc-
cupancy by any but negroes who are
more resistant to malaria than white
people With a properly arranged sys-
tenn for the Punishment Of the mos
quitOs that infeSt that locality, it is
believed that the land could be so i'm
proved in value as to become an enor-
NOUS addition to the agricultural re-
sources OF Louisiana This is well
recognized in New Orleans and the
measures which have been taken so
actively to improve the sanitary con-
dittOnS OF that city during the past two
years, now are being extended to ad-
lacent lands A systematic method Of
providing for the Oiling and drainage
Of these lands is now under cOnsidera-
ton.
Gold Fish Destroy Mosquitoes.
One of the most effective measures
for the prevention Of the increase CT
is the Introduction Of gold
fish and silver fish in slow running
streams as well as in artificial ponds
and lakes A large railroad company
in the middlewest undertook to clear
the region through which its trains
passed from the annoyance Of these in
sects. and for that purpose imported
thousands of these fish from Japan,
stocking all the adjacent small streams
with them. A remarkable decrease in !
the number of mosquitoes was appar-
snt after a single year. Top minnOWs (
IF several species also have been
found to feed upon mosquito larvae |
and certain species OF these have been /
from Texas into Hawaii I
With gOOd1results.
Tomorrow: Valuing the Railroads.