HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 3

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

HAVE YOU MOSQUITO TROUBLE? PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT BITES. (By the Health Department.) Are you having trouble with that vicious little hot weather pest —the mosquito? This is again an open season for her, and all over the country she is bringing out the worst in people with her always irritable, frequently painful, and sometimes dangerous attentions. Reference is made deliberately to the female, because it is usually the female of the species that sucks blood. The males feed on the juice of plants. . In some places mosquitoes are more prevalent than in others, and those folk who don’t have to bother about screening their beds at night have much to be thankful for. One adult mosquito brings a degree of discomfort out of all proportion to her size, and self-protection is frequently something of a problem. The mosquito likes moist and tender skins, but she doesn’t like the smell of citronella. Many people favour the use of oil of citronella, but it does not last sufficiently long to give protection during a whole night of sleep. The following mixture is recommended:—Citronella 2ozs., spirits of camphor 2ozs., and cedar oil loz.

It is claimed that a few drops of this mixture in a cloth hung on the bed will keep mostquitoes at a distance for a long time. The smell of kerosene repels mosquitoes. Rags soaked in kerosene and hung in a room, or at the window entrances, will’help to keep them away — provided you can put up with the smell of kerosene yourself. If it is necessary to fumigate a room containing mosquitoes, 21bs. of sulphur to 1000 cubic feet —that’s about the size of a small room—is said to be effective. To fumigate satisfactorily, the room must be scaled up, and articles of brass, nickel or gilt, which are liable to be tarnished, should be removed.

The best preventive is to attack the breeding places. The domestic mosquito will breed in any collection of water in or about the houses, or in old tins, crockery or utensils lying about. It is wise, therefore, to see thgit water and drainage is not allowed to lie about for more than a day or two at most, and clear away all rubbish from your section. Screen collections of water that' cannot be removed, or, where this is impossible, apply a mixture of crude oil (or used crankcase oil) and kerosene.