Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-17
NO COMMUNITY NEEDS TO
SUFFER MALAR|A's BLIGHT
Destruction OF Breeding Places OF
Ahophelcs Mosquito Proves Adc-
quatc Preventive Measure.
EXPERIENCES OF TWO TOWNS
Energetic Campaigns Of State Health
Department Released Wilson, Din
widdic County, and Kress, Bruins
wick County, From Disease.


hook worm. there Is no foe 10 the
health and economic efficiency OF the
peopla OF Virginia to be so much
dreaded as the malaria parssitc-,ho
plasm odurl. Not. only does malaria
take its toll Of human life by its direct
results. but even when the parasites
arc not present in sufficient number to
cause tho victim 10 have chilis and
) fever, the disease rrcys uron tho sys
tom, lowering vitality. inrairin- the
sufferers powers or resistance. and re-
ducins his cnoreirs and working cf-
Hcicncy.
In scores of Virginia communities
u;"iIria has existed With all of the
suffering and loss its existence entails
troni colonial days. Science. however,
hos placed in the hands Of the people
the solution of the problem. and prac-
titn,Iy every Virginia community can
eradicate this enemy TO its health and
prosperity AZ small cost.
Actual results attained by represen-
tatiVcs OF the state Department az
Health in communities which had been
sorc!y afflicted following ths methods
inauEurated by that great Virginia
phys ician. Dr. Henry X. Garter. assist
ant surgcon-General Of The United
States Army. have been SO satisfactory
that no community should now toe will
ing "a rest under the ma!arial blight.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT
IN TOWN or WILSON
Probably the work done by the de-
partnicat at the town Of Wilson Din
viddie County. is one Of its greatest
achievements. although It's victory over
the malaria bug" al Krcss, Va, is
more recent.
Other communities. in which malaria
with its attendant Ills exist. will he
interested. no doubt. to know what WAS
accomplished in these two towns.
For several years malaria had been
49, z
son. and IN 1915 conditions became
desperate. Five deaths were directly
attributed 10 the disease. while Il large
proportion ~ the $50 inhabitants OF
the Gown Mere affected Appeals to
naSlcnal and state authorities resulted
In survey Of Che community by DR.
carter which survey was followed by
active steps taken under the super
vision Of Or. ROY *. Flanagan. As.
siatant state Health Commissioner OF
Virginia at that time. by whom tho
Boa rds of supervisors OF the Counties
az l.Inwildie and Nottcway were in.
tercs;cu, resulting in small appropria-
'icnS from each TO aid in rcmcdyins
the trouble
The survey had shown the following
possible breeding places Of the ano-
rheles and other moSauitocs tho
former being tho pest which transmits
malaria from one person tu another.
on ono border OF Hobbs mill pond.
covering approximately seventy -lINa
acres, aud ed by NalnuZiuc creek. *
- sIrail stream. constituting tho houn-
daly between the Two counties ThiS
stream AZ intervals above tho pond is
~ turn fed ny y number OF tributaries
having o;hcr hcadwatcrH In various
springs located IN The general valley.
Approximately one and one half miles
above Hobbs mii pond There was ar
cid ahandou,d sawmill pond. covering
about ton "2"cS ana surrounded by
10, a.
operation Of the Sawm!l! quantities OF
LOGS. brush and other upcdmcnts
We're allowed 10 collect in tn" channel
~ The crccE below 10 overflow the
bottom lanes on both sides ana cause
:, considerable area uf swamp and
marsh la'ids between tho $40 points.
\ short distance south ot Wilson
heT.ut, TWO ether considerable marshes
were iovru Oh either side uf the Coun-
" road. wifi a small stream following
an extremely 'ncandcriH- course
through both. and flowing across the
road as an cpcm low Smaller
MARSHES and chokod diichcS We're to
tie found IN different sections "f the
community 1t VIII be ihus seen that
the field for health experimentation
MAS entirely adequate. amt little WAS
left to nc desired "a constitute ihc
Wilson community r"a! problem for
tnc health wo-forS.
BRENNAN W. SNIDQM rs
SENT lb..-Il!ii. fiitiNE LINE
herman W. Sudow. .Cr tho state
Department Of Health. was given per.
ac,a. supervision 90 IN. work al ma
'arin prevention, under the general
oversight ~ rr. Flanuagau. and the
it,ht for the Improvement OF ,hc health
81 the community was actively begun
March -. 1916 At tho outset Tho pco-
rIc were skcpticol. many having tlo
1Cca too frequently me, with, tina, the
work undertaken was q waste 80
money and q moro "job-furnishcr" for
those cnraGed therein. this attitude
making tho preliminary worE all tn.
II orc difficult AZ The work progressed
,:nd tho health workers became better
acquainted sentiment yccred and the
people subscribed IN both cash and
labor 10 tn" fund raised TO carry on the
work later through ;iio oGorIs g;
- : lohbs. o. Wilson and foiiowin.
IN interview between Mr.. Snidow and
rcproScr natives OF the Norfolk and
western Hallway. that company sub
scribod tho sum Of $500 u the wur!..
Til" MIL pond bamj,G q, thu COM
r!ction q n" work showed q clean
shorr line th" orc"k 10 the !ppcr end
%: tii@ abandoned s"wniii sile was
cleared of the channel ohstructious:
Furr"nn@ins marshes were drained, ana
ever spot which could 10 used q. 4
mobilization or breeding point by the
anophcles elan Was cleaned VI and
drained
on Nny ihc work % scrc'ujuS tho
houses or Tho ronmuntty way hnrnr,
under the direction of " g. Cline cn
pjoyod by Nj ~nidow as an aesis,uut
and q result nearly every house in
nc ommunity Was screened. rs
f1riheT pTccaution. iu order 10 reduce
the numbor OF malaria carriers "a tho
minimum. quiuinc su!pha'c ana can
aulcs were FURNISHED The population
and spcoial freshmen was accorded
ihose wnohc blood showed proof Of
ne Prcscnc" Of tn" parasite under
iuicroscoDic examination
The work vas complete success.
Where malaria had been so TO sucah
ne bosom companion Of the rcop!e Of
WILSON II was no longer found. ana
with the exception Of one case and
ihat o. { person WHO came 10 the place
from another part Of tic county. Wi.
@on was entirely freed from the
scOurSr.
Win such rcsu, iu communitv
where The conditions were apparently