MIASMIC MOSQUITOES.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 5

MIASMIC MOSQUITOES.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S CONCERN. r 7 l Circular to County Council. s ‘ Hand It Over to the Press.” i The mosquito season being at hand the .Health Department' is instituting 0, campaign through local bodies in an endeavour to eliminate this pest. In a letter to the Matamata County ■Council the Department urged the Council to use every means to assist 3vith the campaign. It was pointed jput that the insects bred largely in stagnant water present in pools, ponds, puddles, uneven or blocked ieaves guttering, empty tins, -broken ' bottles, broken china vessels, or vessels of various sorts which, carelessly left about, collected rain. Open jain water tanks was stated to be a Common breeding place, and if not with a proper cover then a ’ .jgmall quantity of kerosene should be Jun on top of the water. This would pot affect the taste or wholesomeness ▼ <bf the water and would effectively prevent the insects from breeding, i During the daytime mosquitoes ' Sheltered in dense foliage, therefore It was advisable to reduce to a minimum creepers around verandahs, or any heavily leaved shrubs near a house. The mosquito was often the ■carrier of certain diseases, the severity of which depended on the susceptibility of the individual and the previous lodging place of the insect, such sickness ranging from mere temporary discomfort to the severest form >*TPf blood-poisoning. Local bodies were recommended to institute a thorough campaign and to instruct their inspectors to make a-house to house inspection and cause a general cleanup of all tins, broken bottles, etc., which were likely to form breeding grounds. Following precedent in matters in which a local body feels under sort of obligation but is not interested enough to take very active steps, the council blithely decided that the circular be- handed over to the press.