The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-08-04

railway from charleston 10 SI.
Louis through the mountains.
There is the ancient Boylston
Gold Mine which may yet be res
directed. There is the lost ruby
mine of Old Toxaway which some
enterpriSing explorer may yet re-
discover.
There arc Indian mounds never
yet fully explored, which relics of
the ancient Cherokee occupation
continue to be found. .
Perhaps the best evidence Of
the extent to which the foregoing
advantages appeal to discriminate
ing people is in the fact that our
valley is the site Of more summer
camps for young people than any
other similar area in America.
Thousands of girls and boys are
taken care of in these camps every
summer. Many of them are high
ly developed in practically every
requirement. physical, mental and
spiritual. The most distinguished
people in the country send their
children to these camps. The med
ical advisors of their parents have
investigated the conditions and
pronounce them favorable. The
total investments in these camps
probably exceed a million dollars.
The freedom from mosquitoes
and malaria is one of the strong
est claims of the valley upon
camp-builders. The extent to
which the coastal plain region OF
the South suffers from those
plaques has been often set forth
in the bulletins of the various
state health departments but it is
not yet sufficiently impressed
upon the general public. There
are probably four hundred thou
sand square miles in the South
, and the Mississippi Valley in
which the AnOphelcS, or malaria
carrying mosquitoes occur in
practically every county--a region
larger than France and Italy COM
bined; and there are also probably
ten million people infected with
malaria in one form or another.
To have a region within an aver
age distance of less than half-a-
days ride from this malarious sec
ton completely free from that
disease is a vast advantage. Those
who can afford it may send their
children away from the mosqui-
toes during the period of their
incidence.
1t must, however be candidly
stated that the Anopheles will
breed in the mountains if given a
chance. The popularity of that
genus of mosquitoes, in breeding
only in stagnant or slOw-moving
waters, or in ponds or lakes, i'm
plies that easy drainage is valu-
able asset in facilitating their
elimination. The mountain re-
gions present such drainage ease.
But there are occasional marshes
in certain typographical condi-
lions which present ideal breed
ing-grounds for those mosquitoes,
and those marshy lands ought to
be drained. With cars and trains
carrying some anophcles into the
mountains, they can get a start
by laying their eggs in places IA
vorable for breeding and soon a
sufficient number could be pro-
duccd to infect large communities
if persons infected with the dis
ease are present; and of course
such persons are constantly arriv-
inc in the summer season. The
emphasis lent to proper drainage
is evident. A camp could be ruined
by contiguous swamp. Every
person infected with malaria
ought to be adequately treated
with quinine and kept behind
screening at night until no longer
a possible source Of infection.
1t must be remembered that
several kinds of mosquitoes hap
PLY do not convey malaria; 50
that VIC need not necessarily lnfer
that we have the malarial type If
we find some around. The genus
culex, for example, which breeds
chiefly in vessels, does not carry
malaria. The genus stegomyla,
which carries yellow fever, does
not breed in ground waters but
in containers. Yellow fever has
been stamped out of the United
States. but if a case happened to
get into camp, and the steg-
omyia mosquito happened to be.
breeding in some tin cans nearby,
there might be an epidemic. 1t is
wise to get rid of all types OF
mosquitoes and take no chances.
But elimination in our valley IS,
infinitely easier than i'll any sec
ton below the Fall Line in the