The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1914-04-25
MALARIA MOSQUITO ADDS TO
DAMAGE OF COTTON BOIL WEEVIL
Anophees Causing Great Loss in Labor and Crop Production
Throughout the South-ResuIs Show Preliminary Study
Of Malaria Infected Plantation.

ease In the total OF Ga families. In
these cases the loss of time involved
represents only the severe cases. The
number who have the disease in an
Inactive state or some other form is
undoubtedly far In excess Of these fig
ures.
Loss Of TIme Through Malaria.
Presuming that the loss OF 1915
weeks for IL families holds for the 46
infected families, the total loss
of time would be $40 weeks for the 4e
malarial families. The loss OF time is
based on the work of an adult Mem
bers of the family between twelve and
sixteen years Of age are figured at
one-half time, and those between eight
and twelve at one-fourth. This loss
OF time figured at the rate OF wages OF
one dollar per day would amount to
$3.50. This does not include the
actual loss for medical fees and medi-
cine. AS these people are tenant farm
ers, however. II is to be presumed that
their labor Is worth more to them.
selves and the plantation than that
of the usual day laborer AS this loss
of labor was distributed throughout
the season. the actual loss to the
plantation and to the tenant farmer
would have to be figured on the effect
on the crop Of this loss of time spread
over the crop season. The investiga-
tors were unable to do this during
the past season. But In consequent
Investigations the actual per acre pro-
duction of the malarial and nonmala-
rial farms will be contrasted so as to
determine the actual effect OF ma
laria on the crop. Inasmuch as ma
laria affects these people most seri-
ously during the critical times of
corn and cotton cultivation. It is prob
able that 1t directly lessons the pro
ductlon.
The loss of time figured is for act
ual incapacity on account of sickness,
and does not include the loss OF time
by healthy members of the family in
nursing the members who were ILL.,
In one case observed by the investiga-
tor. the wife was suffering from Sc
rious attack of malaria and the hus-
band remained at home to take care
of her. There were FIVE children in
this family who usually work with
their parents in the field These were
all congregated in idleness about the
house In spite OF the fact that the
work of picking cotton was In prog
ress and the weather was most fa-
vorable. As a result, the entire time
OF this family of seven was lost
through the illness OF one member.
The loss Of time figured is merely
the time of actual incapacity and does
not take into consideration the di-
minished strength. energy and inter
est OF the patient when he is trying
to work In the fields during his con-
valescence
Effect OF Malaria on Efficiency.
The manager OF the property states
that an estimate, based on actual loss
of time. which would place the loss
, TO the plantation owners from reduced
production at 1885, and to the ten
ants at Sl.1l6, would be very low. This
would mean that II the loss were pre-
vented there would be an increased In
come of s24 per family for each of the
46 malarial tenant families together
with the above Increase in returns to
the plantation. This manager is posi-
tive that so families. or possibly even