Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-27
THE SHARP STING OF THE FALL
MOSQUITO.
lGalNee Ncw. h

tGalNcSton Ncw~.l
There i general complaint over the mos
quito pest, reported in some sections TO be
more troublesome than ever known before.
Similar complaints we're formerly heard
concerning the flies, but the fine fall
weather has rendered he flS nuisance less
distro sSinl However. The flies have not all
disappeared. and there are still enough
mosquitoes lett to keep the human race
alive and active: bnt there are fewer OF
these pests III Cleveland and Baltimore
than there used 10 be. according "a the
testimony of experts. and people every
where are beng taught that They are dan
gcrous and are beng continually warned
against them. There are fewer filthy
stables than there used 10 be. and conSc-
quently fewer flies: the breeding places
of mosquitoes have been reduced III num-
Der, and IN this way the people have been
saved from ~waTm- and myriad~ that
would Otherwise have been added 80 the
swarmS that arc left To taalalizc. inocu-
late and blister ~. Then most Of Us are
protected BY screens that had not been
thought Of Il generation ago.
The ceiling Of the uld-stutc home of
only a few years ago WAS gray with lly
specks. II has not been long since mn in
dustrious servant was kept busy with q
long handled brush composed ~ peacock
plumes guarding the VIund~ of the dining
table from the hungry swarm, that scared
above It. In some Instances an IinpoSin.
and creaky biplanc IN hIoomcrs WAS -u-
pended above the table and vigorously
hauled 10 and fro IA order a. push away the
hungry army 81 daring ntrudcr-. From
most homes The peacock feathers have dis
appeared, and no noisy machinery now
disturbs the even and continuous flow of
conversation. But the flies anl mosqui-
toes are kept out ~ the Scrccus. one Of
the greatest inventions ~ any inventive
age.
There are many who are not protected
by screens and others Who must -pcud n
large part Of their tnc ia places where
protection ~ screen Is impossible. Even
those who have complete protection FROM
direct contact with NV insects must run
the risk dl catching contagious nr mfcc-
tlous diseases from the less fortunate who
have been Nictimi1ed IN some insect pest.
The fly and mosquito problem h therefore
n city OF community problem. and not
merely 4 problem for the individual. ju~t
a. smallpox Or cholera or yellow fever.
once II break ont m q ciiN, i- a ciiy prob
lem which no individual can settle Tor
himself alone, ~ the invasion of insects
that cause and spread such c%pidcmicS pre-
sents tasks lying within The province or
The city, the stale. thc government. OF
course individual effort must not bc dis
couragcd. II D. indeed absolutely nccc-
sary. Every one should combat the pest
for the sake OF himself. his family aud his
fellow citizens. The individual expense
should not be- great. Fly traps built ~
cording 10 United States army regulations
are being offered for sale III the stores for
small amounts. and q large variety Of other
devices of the same order may bc pnr-
chased eheaply. Or one may build hiS own
rrap. One Of the simpler and more e.
fectual homemade ily traps Wy that one
popularity called tbr SUGAR barrel trap.
This is constructed 81 y barrel with bot
tom and top knocked ont. 10 the bottom
of the barrel is fastened n come eighteen
inches high, fashioned Of wire netting. and
tapcring to a hole III the top one inch in
diameter. Over the top 81 tie barrel II
placed a piece of flat netting. 20 arranged
that it may be easily removed. The bar
rel is then raised two inches from the floor
by means of two legs fastened underneath
it. Beneath the trap a shallow pan or
he placed as bait. The flies caught in the