Evening star., 1915-05-30
TWENTY-TEHREE THOUSAND CONFEDERATE Cities
GRAVES CARED FOR BY UNCLE SAM

7F small percentage of the threats
that are being made against the
q mosquito are carried into execution
the song of that persistent pernicious
and nettlesome insect will be stilled
When the question of the determination
of the mosquito is raised no one is found
to argue against it on the ground that
the balance of nature will be disturbed
and some greater evil than the mosquito
be brought upon the world.
1t required a campaign of education to
turn mankind against the fly as one OF
the malignant enemies Of the human
race The fly had been with us for all
time and though considered a disturber
of the peace by bald-headed men and
perhaps by some others was generally
looked on as a harmless creature. 1t
would seem that various poets have in
dited verses to him. His industry was
often remarked upon and it was known
that he was very inquisitfve as to the
physiognomy of his victims, especially
when they wanted to sleep. or when rain
was approaching, or the weather was
choice Of food was observed, but the
germ theory had not then taken such a
hold on the peace of mind Of men as
it has today. The fly was not suspected
of malevolence. But the world knows
more about the fly today than it ever
his real character laid bare.
~
In the case Of the mosquito, he has
always been under suspicion. OF course,
IL was not known that he disseminated
some OF the worst maladies that flesh is
heir to, but It was universally known
that he could raise welts and make
blotches on the skin. He was known
to be an evil, but in those benighted
was looked on as necessary evil. 1t
was not known how to get rid OF him.
There were so many of him, and he
seemed to be in all places that it ap-
peared impossible to exterminate him.
The world more or less meekly and hope
lessly endured his sting.
But the man with the miscroscope and
the analytical mind got busy. The
mosquito was proved guilty Of being the
chief distributor Of yellow fever and
malaria. and 1t was also proved that
he could not come into existence to
plague the world without the aid OF
stagnant water. These were truly epoch
making discoveries. Drainage and other
means of sanitation banished the mos
quito from regions that for untold cen
turies had been his haunt and what
had been the pest-spots of the world
were turned into healthful places; This
woxk has gone on until everybody now
knows that the mosquito is not neces-
sary evil and that there is way to
get rid of him If there is the will to do
it. And in a surprisingly large number
of places there Is that will
Many states and cities, in addition to
an anti-fiy campaign. have under way or
in Immediate prospect a plan Of cam
paign directed against the mosquito. New
Jersey is continuing Its ditch or trench
warfare against the dangerous pest.
Marsh lands are being drained by means
of bitches. and in these bitches the
water is oiled. thus cutting off the sup
ply OF new mosquitoes. This plan is
being generally employed in those mos
quito infested places where the people
have intelligence and energy enough to
combat their ancient and dishonora BILE
enemy The people are warned against
permitting the existence of ponds OF
stagnant water. Marshes and other
breeding places Of the insects are being
reclaimed either by being filed In OF
drained, and the mosquito area OF the
United States. as well as other parts
of the world, is being apprectably de-
creased.