San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
URGE AID IN
COMBATING
DENCUE FEVER
Health Service Engineers
Say Citizens Must Help
Kill Mosquitoes.
CITY WORKERS BUSY
Work Started Just in Time
to Prevent Epidemic
Here.

That the work of destroying thc
fever carrying mosquito in San An
tonic is being carried out on more
extensive scale and in a more sys-
tcmatic manner now than in any
other city in Texas. is the opinion
of +. w. Steel and +. G.. Eggert.
sanitary engineers sent to San An
tonic by DIR. w. ii. Beazley, state
health officer, in the interest of adj
vancing the work which will control
the growth Of mosquitoes in San An
tonic. This campaign is just in time
to prevent thousands of cases OF
dengue fever, and every citizen must
aid the fight, the engineers said.
The sanitary engineers particularly
emphasized the commendable work
done by Mayor John w. Tobin and
his official family in making the
work possible in this city, in addi-
ton to expressing their appreciation
and favor of the cooperation given
by the residents of the city in help
ing to completely destroy mosquitoes.
The work in San Antonio not only
has received the recognition of the
state health department but federal
recognition has also been given, ac-
cording to the engineers.
About the middle of July the i'm
portance of Kidding the city of the
mosquito was brought before Mayor
Tobin and the city commissioners,
particularly calling their attention to
the fact that an epidemic of dengue
fever was threatening the. city. The
mayor and commissioners Immediate
ly started the campaign to destroy
the death-carrying insect, appointing
DIR. w. A. King, city health officer
to personally supervise the work.
Say Some Don't Understand.
In addition to the work being done
by the city officials and other men,
two federal experts, both of whom
are "old-timers" at Kidding Il section
of mosquitoes, were sent to San An
tonic by a district federal agent from
Ell Paso. These two men are DIR.
Asa G. Chandler and r. l.. Turner.
sanitary inspectors of the United
States public health service. Mr.. Tur-
ner was on duty for considerable time
in the Panama canal zone and is fa-
miliar with the work with which he
Is now COUITOnleu.
While a great deal of cooperation
is being given by residents of the
city, there are still a great many who
do not realize the work being done
by these men and their agents, and
resent any invasion of their property
by the mosquito hunters" it was
said. They fail TO see that the work
is being done in their interest, claim
ing that there are no mosquitoes
around their premises and that there
are no places where mosquitoes can
breed.
Investigation, however, will oft
times disclose the insects breeding in
| flower pots, barrels and other places
that the resident had probably never
thought of, the health agents report.
Even should there be no mosquitoes
| found, they declares, there is no
harm in. assuring the owner that there
| are no mosquito breeding places
around his premises, and in their opin-
ion the residents should be more than
glad to have their places inspected.
Says Mosquito Being Conquered.
at is an established fact that there
should be no mosquitoes in San An
tonic, and further, it is a fact that
the breeding of mosquitoes in this
city can be and is being controlled.
said Sanitary Sngineer Eggert Satur'
day afternoon.
That an epidemic of dengue fever
is at present threatening San An
tonic, and that unless the work ot
the city, state and federal health de
partments is continued without let-up
there will be thousands of cases il
the city where there are at present
only few hundred. is the statement
made by DR.. Chandler in discussing
the "mosquito condition" of thi
city.
DR.. Chandler highly praised thu
work Of the city and state forces il
combating the mosquito. and also thu
cooperation of the residents. request
ing only that more cooperation b
given those carrying out the work.
Ready 10 Give Aid.
"If anyone in the city is troubled
with mosquitoes we would consider /
favor il he will call the publ
health department. of the city an
leave his name and address," said DR.
Chandler. ave will Immediately dis
patch man out to the house ant
in a short time he will have foun
the breeding place of the mosquitoes
people have an idea that the in
sects breed in the river and tall weeds
To a certain extent this is true. bu
. the chances are that some place
5 either on the premises or within
few hundred yards of the dwelline
some old barrel or other containe
will be found where mosquitoes ar
: brpedinr.'
. DIR. Chandler has in his offices a
the city public health department scN
cral jars containing thousands Of wis
"details. all of which will eventual