The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-04-13

that comes by failing to do what
we ought-are sinful is shown in
their effects against ourselves and
against our neighbors.
1t is a moral wrong to suffer
from a disease that may be pre-
vented, because it is a moral obi
CATION to our neighbors and to the
community that we shall always
be at the high level of producing
efficiency. 1t is a moral wrong
that we shall communicate to
others a disease that shall lessen
their highest efficiency. 1t is
matter of time somewhere in the
future,-when the best sentiment
of the state and nation will recog-
nize this practical relationship be-
tween preventable and private
morals.
These facts apply to no disease
at all general in Florida with
stronger emphasis than to malar-
ia. 1t is communicable from one
individual to another through
mosquito carried parasites. 1t is
exhausting and enervating. 1t
causes immense loss Of physical
energy and mental efficiency, and
the resulting economic loss is use
lessly large-useless, because I'M
necessary.
In Florida, as elsewhere, it's
ravages are greater in the warm
months of the year because in
these months the mosquito is more
active. Indications in certain sec
tions of the state point to the pos
sibility, even the probability, that
the disease is likely to be unusual
ly prevalent during the approach
ing summer, and now is the time
to start the active fight against
these probabilities.
During the colder months, when
the mosquito is not active as a
disease carrier, the seeds of the
are preserved more or
less quiescent, in the bodies of
the human victims, to be revived
by the heat of the spring and
making the patient the
source of infection.
There are two reliable ways o.
preventing the spread of malaria.
One is by curing it. The remedy
is simple and sure and every
Florida doctor knows it and can
administer it effectively. The
other way is to prevent the moe
ulation of the mosquito, which
abSorbs the parasite laden blood
by attacking the patient and
transfers it when he-or rather,
she-bites the next victim.
In other words, keep the mos
quito from the patient and pro-
tect everybody from the mosqui-
to. Medical scientists have be-
come intimately acquainted with
this particular mosquito, and they
know the habits of her daily life.
They have discovered that she,
like burglars, wildcats, bats and
owls, works at night, although the
mosquito begins operations in the
late afternoon and just before
sunset. She has no liking for the
bright light and heat of the full
day.
And this prevention means
screens-wire screens screens
enclosing the porch where the
family sits in the evening, screens
over every window and door of
the house, and the mosquito proof
net well tucked in over the bed.
Make the screening so effective
that the pest cannot get into the
house nor to the places whore peo-
pie sit or rest. And be sure that
this screening is in working order
all the time. Eternal vigilance is
the price and the results make it
cheap.
Careful screening of the home
in Florida serves more purposes
than that of comfort. 1t prevents
malaria, it is effective and neces-
sary in the fight against typhoid
and against other diseases. In
deed, the screen (of wire) is
practically as essential to the
Florida home as its roof, and the
l.,