THE MOSQUITO'S GUILT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8213, 17 August 1906, Page 7

THE MOSQUITO'S GUILT.

The yellow fever [epidemic in New Orleans last year convinced the public of the guilt of the stegomyia species of mosquito in transmitting the disease. As a matter of fact, a party of American scientists had conclusively sheeted home the guilt five years before. Mr Samuel Hop kins Adams, tells the story in an article on the BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS -against the fever, for it was on this previous demonstration that tthe campaign was based. Two adjoining houses, similar in hygiene, sanitation, and temperature, were selected, and in these bands] of volunteers were domiciled. In one house, which was carefully soreened to prevent the entrance of mosquitoes, the volunteers slept for two months in soiled bedding from a yellow sfever hospital in Havana. Not one case of yellow fever developed among the men. The other house was kept as clean AS S.i NITARY SOJENOE •could make it, and everything used by the volunteers was sterilised. Into the bouse were introduced specimens of the stegomyia mosquito which had bitten yellow fever patients. Fifty per cent, of the men developed yelow fever, as did 70 per cent, of the men from the other nouse who allowed themselves to be bitten. Some of the men died —martyrs to science. So when New Orleaiiß woke up last year to the fact that THE YELLOW FEVEK was in its midst, a relentless war was Btrrted* against the mosquito, and a campaign waged suob as probably no city ever waged before. The citizens roße to the emergency splendidly, and a systematic attack was made on the breeding places throughout the city. It is related that after every cistern in the city had been screened and Treated with oil, A STORM OF RAIN TORE! loose the soreeniugs and overflowed the cisterns, undoing the hard work of days, and making new difficulties. Next morning when the campaign leaders came down to headquarters, weary and siok at heart they saw above the office door a placard bearing the words: "Wear a smile upon your face, and a flower in your button bole." Witb this spirit in the air, it was no wonder that the was utterly routed, and trie disease stamped out. In one district infection was unmistakably traced to a church. The oistprns HAD BEEN SAPELY SCREENED, and the doutDr was puzzled until he examined the holy water fonts, and found tnem alive with young mosquitoes. The church was fumigated, and the water changed, with the result that cases in the district dropped from forty to three per week in three weeks. New Orleans emerged from the campaign with whnt the Japanese oall a "health-conscience," which every crty might have if it liked.