Evening journal., 1916-02-12
MOSQUITOES AND MALARIA.


nELAWARE has much marsh land. The great bulk
- of Il stretches along the eastern side OF tho state
Most of is susceptible of reclamation. II is safe to
however that many years will elapse before 1t
has been reclaimed. The work would cost millions OF
dollars The money is not available. Until the low
lands have been banked filled and drained, the people
continue suffer the dscomforts and losses in-
ciden TO the existence OF such mountaineering ma
laria-laden and except in so fai mugrat furs and
salt hay are concerned, non-producve areas.
II is the malaria end Of the Delaware marsh stua-
ton that IS of greatest immediate interest to Deiawar
cans and Of course, the mosquito and malaria go To-
gether We have received from the United States Pub
lie Health Service bulletin which bears Importantly
upon that local interest II is based upon the annual
report Of the Surgeon and tells how the Fed
eral Government is meeting the malaria problem
The bulletin recies that four per cent. of the IN
habitants OF certain sections OF the South have malaria
This estimate. based the reporting OF 2O4SSl cases
during 1914 has led the United States Public hea'n
Service to give increased attention TO the malaria prob
lem according TO the annual report of the Surgeon
General or 1886 blood specimens examined by gov
ernment officers during the year. l797 showed maar-
ial infection The infection rate among white persons
was above eight per cent and among colored persons
twenty per cent In two counties in the fazoo Naney'
40 out Of every 100 inhabitants presented evidence OIL
the disease
Striking as the above figures are they are no more
remarkable than those relating TO the reduction in
the incidence of the disease following surveys of the
Public Health Service at thirtyfour places in nearly
every State of the South In some instances from an
incidence of fifteen per cent in 1914 reduction has
been accomplished to less than four or hve per cent
in 1915.
One OF the important scientific discoveries made dur
ing the year in regard to the continuance OF the
disease from season to season over 1000 Anopheline
mosquitoes in malarious districts dssected, dur
ing the early Spring months without finding single
infected insect and not until May 15 1915 was the FIRST
| parasite in the body of a mosquito discovered. The
Public Health Service, therefore. concludes that mos
quoes in the latitude of the Southern States ordinarily
do not carry the infection through the Winter This
discovery indicates that protection from malaria may
be secured by treating human carriers with quinn'
previous to the middle of May thus preventing any in
lection from chronic sufferers reaching mosquitoes
and being transmitted by them to other persons
Although quinine remains the best means Of treating
malaria and also Of marked benefit in preventing in
fecton the eradication OF the disease as whole rest
upon the destruction of the breeding places Of Anophe
line mosquitoes The Public Health Service therefore
is urging a definite campaign OF draining standing
water the filling OF low places, and the regarding ant
training Of streams where malaria mosquitoes breed
| The oing of breeding places, and the stocking o
streams with top-feedng minnows are further recon
mended The Service also gives advice regardin
screening and other preventive measures as part @
the educational campaign conducted in sections OF IN
fected .erritory
This study is typical OF the scientific investigation
which are being carried out by the Pubic Health Sci
vice all CT which have direct bearing on eradieatn
the disease. The malaria work now includes the co
lection OF morbdity data. malaria surveys demonsl4
ton work scientific field and laboratory studies ed
cationa campaigns and special studies Of mpounds
water and drainage projects.
AS the Federal Government, through the Bureau
Education is using Delaware as an educational e'
detrimental and demonstration field. we hope the Pu'
lie Health Service will deem it wise to use our stat
as a base for its mosquito determination ana maar'
eradication work. The people, especially pnose NV"
along the Delaware river and bay and other uloule
would welcome uch Federal activity