Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-10
PREPAREDNESS AGAINST MOSQUITOES
by FREDERIC j. HAS<IN

WASHlNGToN. u. e, June 9-ln al
most all parts Of the United States the
mosquito season is at its height. and
everywhere warfare against the mos
quito Is. or ought to be, going Wig
orously forward Within the last few
years science has elevated the MOSQUITO
from the position OF trining pest 10
be lightly brushed aside 70 that Of
mans most dangerous inscc, enemy
The mosquito is a nuisance az best Al
worst he is also a conveyer of malaria.
yellow fever, filariasis and dcuEue
fever. II there are no mosquitoes
where YOU live, you will probably meet
them on your vacation. In any case
you ought TO be prepared TO defend
yourself.
There are three ways of getting a,
tn" mosquito problem One is to Kill
him away or fence him out The most
effective Is TO prevent him from being
born.
However, If you go TO the country
Tor Your vacation, YOU Will probably
md large number of vigorous. mid
dlc-agcd mosquitoes already on the
ground and thrsting for your blood.
so the preventive measures are out
OF tho question. Also you can't kill
mosquitoes while you are asleep.
About the only thing that remains is
70 inauGu-ate German poison gas
campaign which Will make the APP
proach TO your position imprcgnablc
from mosquitoes standpoint.
1t is one of the mosquitoes great
Weaknesses that he cannot stand
strong odors Spirits of camphor and
oil Of pennyroyal are two substances
which will give YOU little or no in
convenience, but will keep away mos
quitoes as long as they last. They
are not, however, very durable. \ few
drops OF either on your pillow viii
keep mosquitoes away for several
hours. but after that you viii! have 10
wake UP and sprinkle some more about.
\ small bottle of either OF these sub
stances is an excellent thing te. have
with YOU whenever you go intt the
encmy's country. however.
OIL of peppermint. lemon Juice and
vinegar all come under the ban OF the
fastidious mosquito and may be used
against him with some effect Oil Of
citronclla is probably more effective
than any Of these, provided you can
stand IL yourself TO some persons -
is uncomfortable. but most OF them
vastly prefer II to the mosquito. A
very effective antimosauito mixture
consists or an ounce Of oil of citronella,
an ounce OF spirits OF camphor. and
half an ounce of oil OF cedar.
Sprinkle some of this mixture on
towel and hang IL over your face when
you SO to bed and the average house
you. Il the insects are very numerous
and persistent, rub n little on your
hands and face.
When il comes to the malaral mos
quito of the South, the deadly SteEo-
myia, these "dopes" are not 10 be re-
lied upon. Nearly any OF them Will
lose their efficacy in the course OF
long night, and Stegomyis begins to
bite just about daylight. when most
persons are sleeping very soundly. By
mixing one part of oil Of citronella
with four parts Of vaseline. you can
greatly rctard the evaporation of the
protective oil. Pure kerosene is more
effective than pleasant. and has been
used extensively In the Philippines.
II YOU are going into southern
country. where you know the malarial
mosquito exists. the proper precaution
is to take some sort of bar or can
opy. DO not think that the screening
OF a house is enough to protect you.
There are sure to be opportunities for
the mosquitoes TO slip through. and
they will sometimes deliberately force
their way through screening. If they
are very abundant it is often advis-
able to paint the screens with kero-
sene or oil Of citronella If compelled
to go about in regions Infested with
mosquitoes, the use OF wells and gloves
affords the only safety.
Every traveller in q mosquito ma la
rial country should provide himself
with n bed canopy, and should see that
it is always in perfect repair. Often
the carrying OF R small pocket sewing
kit is necessary for this purpose. If
YOU are going to camp in any tropical
or semi-tropical region, you should
provide yourself with a first-rate can
opy. To be reliable. mosquito netting
must have twenty mcShes to the square
inch. Fiftcen-mesh netting will let
some OF them through
Argument for Tobacco Users.
No variety of mosquito can endure
smoke. and smudge often is the best
way to get rid of them, especially in
camp The efficacy of a cigar or a
strong pipe along this line is we'll
ers firmly believe that they are let
alone by insect pests, even when they
are not smoking. because Of the nico-
tine In their bodies.
The best way to smoke mosquitoes
out OF room is by burning Pyrethrum
powders. known also as Dalmatian in
sect powder, Persian insect powder,
huhach and perhaps other names. These
powders are the underground flowers
of two species of plants. both belong
ing to the genus Pyrethrum. The flow
ers contain a volatile oil. which is the
constituent effective against insects.
and the powder rapidly deteriorates
with age and exposure. Also. some OF
these powders are made by grinding up
the entire plant, which weakens them.
To be effective, therefor. Pyrethrum
powders should be both fresh and pure.
BY burning this powder In n room
at night, you can easily rid II OF mos
quitoes. provided you close the doors
and windows, and let the smudge do
It's work thoroughly The mosouitoea
will fall to the floor stupehed and may
easily be swept out. The best way to