Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04

tenSlVe Investigations have been made
either in this country or abroad to de-
termine how long the soil remains in
fected with the ovirulent germs of the
scab.
Uncle Sam is on the trail of the ma
laria-carrying mosquito. In much the
same manner as the
After Malaria Panama Canal Zone and
1ro.:4 Cuba have been freed
from yellow fever. the
germs Of which are spread by member
of the--rnosquito family, the government
is now pushing a nationwide campaign
against malaria. which is also carried by
infected anopheles. the name by which
the malaria mosquitoes are known to
scientists.
For more than a year Surgeon Gem,
eral Rupert Blue head of the United
States public health service, has kept one
of the ablest members of his corps of
surgeons. Dr., R. H. Won Ezdorf, working
quietly in cooperation with health Off
GERS of various southern states where
malaria is prevalent and where there is
an opportunity for great improvement of
the public health by freeing the COM
munfty IN part at least of the mosquitoes
which carry the germs. Excellent prog
ress is reported. in this organized Gam
paign to stamp malaria out of the many
sections where this sickness causes
heavier economic loss to the people than
almost any other disease.
People in many states little realize the
serious inroads which malaria makes on
the health of the inhabitants in some
parts of the country. and of the great
loss of time which many of the men and
women have to undergo because of the
fact that they are incapacitated for
work because of this insidious disease.
In number of states as much as one
fifth of the area is affected by regular
epidernics of malaria. and men and wom-
en- workers in these communities are
compelled to lose many days in the year
because of this common disease, which
saps their vitality and units them in a
large degree for labor of any kind.
either mental or physical.
Both federal and state public health
authorities are cooperating to wipe out
malaria because of the great economic
loss caused by the disease and also be-
cause OF the fact that 1t makes victims
which it attacks ready prey for typhoid,
tuberculosis and many other serious
health troubles.
The nature of the campaign against
malaria for a long while must be largely
educational because many people still re-
gard this disease very lightly, owing to
many localities as matter of course and
the people little understand how it may
be warded off. AS matter of fact, ma
laria is more harmful to the public health
than some Of the most contagious dis
eases.
The public health service is cooperating
in the anti-maIaria campaign with
both state and municipal authorities. who
are conducting campaigns against the
Misunderstanding mosquito. In many sec
tons of the country, particularly through
out the east and south, the authorities
are now engaged in the drainage of
swamps where malaria mosquitoes breed,
and the filling in of low places in the land
with dirt. Where drainage is not possi-
bic and salt water Is available this is
turned in to take the place of fresh water
AS in every public health campaign, in
dividuals may play an important part in
the work. and the screening of windows
and the general sanitation and cleaning
up of all places about the home where
mosquitoes may exist are advised. In his
investigations in southern states DIR. Won
EZdorf has found mosquitoes in all sorts
of hiding places around houses, upsually
in bedrooms. behind furniture, pictures,
clothes, or in dark corners of the rooms.
1t is not unusual to find them in out
houses. barns and storerooms.
The principal breeding places of mos
quitoes in the south and east are found
along poorly drained creeks. marshy
places in the woods, cypress brakes,
bitches and low places in the fields.
Around houses the breeding places are
found in open surface wells. poorly drain
ed bitches. cutters. water barrels and
pools overgrown with grass and other
vegetation. Progress in fighting mosqui-
toes must necessarily be slow because
Of the large expenditure of money which
Is necessary when the work is done in a
thorouEhgoing way. such as by the
spraying of breeding places with oil or
by special engineering work to drain
swampy land Much can be accomplish
ed, however, public health officers be-
lieve. by continual efforts on the part
of individuals as well as by state and
municipal health authorities to educate
the people on the dangers of malaria. on
the use of quinine, on the protection Of
the home against the mosquitoes, and on
the benefits of thorough sanitation
around the house. In many sections of
the country the mosquito nuisance is
being wiped out by draining and bring
ing into cultivation large areas of land
which heretofore were swampy and I'M
used. RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.