New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-09-18
Anti-Malaria Measures.


sion of the disease. Since the in
fected mosquito is TRANSMITTING
agent, two classes of effort ar
necessary-control Of the physlca
environment; prophylaXls l
screening of the sick and IN tn
administration of quinine to resi-
dents Of an infected area.
Experience teaches that tn
anopheles larvae live in stagnant
fairly pure water in which there
is grass and algae; the adult mos
quito as a rule does not fly far anC
needs grass and underbrush fol
protection against wind.
Control of Conditions.
Successful anti-malaria meas
ures for control of breeding pla.
ces consist:
I'm filling and draining.
2-Clearing Of brush and grass.
3-Introduction of fish and nat
ural enemies Of mosquito larvae.
4-Oiling by hand and by au-
tomato devices, or application of
larvacide.
The first requisite in mosquito
determination campaigns is a
survey to determine areas which
can be drained. Though expen-
sive to inaugurate, system Of
permanent drainage is economic,
Colonel Gorgas says, in one Of his
reports: "Tile drains we con-
sidet the most effective and most
expensive"
Supplementary to drainage, re-
lianfe is placed on the use of oil
and larvacides and in some pla-
ces on stocking the streams with
fish and natural enemies Of the
mosquito, The former, in the
majority of instances, is more eff
fective, The best method Of oil
ing. must be determined by the
nature Of the area treated, In
streams of moderate flow, oil may
be applied by means of some au-
tomato device. For bodies of
stagnant water, periodical appli-
cation is necessary, the oiling to
be repeated whenever the layer
is broken by rain or wind. When
not dangerous to inhabitants,
crude oil mixed with carbolic acid
is more effective than plain oil.
The larvacide generally employed
is a preparation Of carbolic acid,
resin and caustic soda. This
preparation is used in treating
small collections Of water, peck
cts OF streams, and slow flowing
bitches where vegetation and
algae are abundant. 4
To be rid Of breeding places
along streams, Doctor Orenstein,
assistant chief sanitary inspector
Of the Canal Zone says: We
endeavor to keep the banks free
from pockets and to keep the
streams and banks well above
high water, free from all vegeta-
tion.''
The area cleared of brush and
tall grass must vary with condi-
lions. Usually, a belt approx
mating 1000 feet wide surround
ing the inhabited section is nee
essary; around dwellings from
loo to 200 yaeds. In the Canal
Zone it was found economical to
grace to NOW the grass at fire.
quent intervals.
Prophylactic Measures.
Prophylactic measures consist
IN screening, especially those in
fected, and in the administration
Of qoinine to all residents of the
area.
The usefulness of screening de-
ponds upon care as to the details
with which it is put up and con-
slant supervision as to repair. In
the Canal Zone it is found neces-
sary to employ a force of carpen-
ters for this purpose alone.
Doctor Evans of Chicago in al
short article sets forth the rea-
sons for the use of quinine as a
orophylactic measure. He says
ITO spread malaria the ano-
'heles mosquito must bite a per-
ION in whose blood the malarial
organisms are ready for the mos
quito stage. In the blood sucked
lp there must be malarial para
ties. for not every blood cell nor
ven every hundred cells contain
parasite. The mosquito must
rye for ten days while the para.
lite is getting ready for man
gain, and then the mosquito
aust discharge the young para
tie into the blood IF cuScan+; :