The Washington herald., 1922-09-07
Remove Breeding Places,
Mosquito Menace Solution
Do Away With Ponds Is Advice of DR.. Alvah
H. Doty, Former New York
Health Officer

The mosquito can be successfully
eliminated. according to DR.. Alvah H.
Doty, formerly health officer for the
port Of New York. This statement
has great local significance in view Of
the mosquito plague that has visited
Anacostia.
As reported in The Herald last Tues
day, millions OF the insects infest the
community across the Eastern Branch
of the Potomac, and their presence
has compelled hundreds Of residents
there to place expensive screens
around their porches. and to otherwise
barricade themselves from the men
ace.
DR.. Doty, who is chairman Of the
public health department Of the Ma
tional Civic Federation OF New York
in the following article explains how
the mosquito can be eliminated:
Excessive Rainfall Cause.
The marked increase in the num-
De SuCCSS1ullN tAltl o'iN
this section of the country during the
present summer, due largely TO the
excessive rainfall. has led to consider
able public discussion concerning the
propagation and determination of this
insect. although among those who are
practically familiar with this subject
there is no difference OF opinion as to
r., a r,nnSntiitn u
be successfully northumberland
that is by the destruction of their
breeding places.
The inland variety Of which we
are speaking prefers for beering
the quiet pools which are found
everywhere throughout the coun-
try, and which contain an abun-
dance of organic matter and but
few II any fish; besides. there is
no exposed receptacle containing
water which will not furnish
breeding place. Land depression.
urns in cemeteries. unused recep-
tacles of all kinds about the prem
ises water tanks on the roofs of
houses. rainwater barrels and in
Vulnerable other places which are
available for this purpose. provid-
ed tkAv contain water for a period
of about two weeks. Mosquitoes
breed only ir water. and the Pc
riod to which refer is required
for propa cation from the discharge
Of the eggs to the birth of the full
grown insect.
Water rich in organic matter Is
particularly favorable for propaga-
tion. for It contains a large amount
of nourishment for the larvae. In
connection with the work of mo-
squito determination at Staten Is
'and, ! obtained some very definite
and valuable proof of this. Large
superficial trays were placed side
by side in a mosquito-infested dis
trict. and an equal number of these
trays contained distilled water, or
dinary tap water and water con-
taminated by the addition of meat
and, dead fish.
Disease breeders.
In every test the same results
were obtained. In the trays con-
aiming distilled water practically
no breeding occurred, for evidently
the mosquito found no organic mat
ter. In the trays containing tap
water some eggs were laid. In the
trays containing contaminated
water. breeding was carried on TO
such an extent that the water 3.
times seemed almost thick with
larvae, The tests were repeated
several times during a period Of
four months. and l believe fur
nished satisfactory evidence that
mosquitoes prefer for breeding pur-
poses water containing an abun-
dance Of organic matter.
The inland mosquito to which
have referred is found throughout
the world. In recent years, in
disputable evidence has been pre-
sented that at least two varieties
OF the inland mosquito are respon-
sib!e for the transmission of dis
ease. refer to the stegomyia.a "a
which transmits yellow fever, and
the aEopheles, which Is responsible
for the dissemination Of malaria.
A reference to the history of the
States during the past
century gives abundant proof not
only in regard to the great loss of
'ife caused by yellow fever. but the
grave injury to commerce as a re-
suit Of the great ravages of this
also the so-called shotgun
uuara ntine irnnosed at the | ,rder