Vol. xxii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 93 



mosquito than to overthrow this deep-seated prejudice, which begets 

 apathy and indifference, characteristic of the tropical countries where 

 these diseases are so prevalent. 



But now, in all parts of the world the campaign against insect car- 

 riers of disease is being waged. Most instructive are the accounts 

 often from personal experience which the author gives of the re- 

 sults of this movement. For instance, the early history of yellow fever 

 shows in some epidemics a mortality rate of 69 per cent. It was not 

 from want of good food or water, or accommodation that men perish- 

 ed. "No, they were struck down by some unseen hand, and medicine 

 said that that hand was the miasm. Today we know it to be the mos- 

 quito and whereas formerly, acting on the miasm theory not one life was 

 ever saved, today, armed with the new knowledge, we visit the mias- 

 matic countries with the same feeling of security that we do when we 

 ppv a visit to the continent." 



A valuable feature is the discussion of plans of campaign against the 

 guilty mosquito. Especially interesting to the American reader is the 

 detailed account of the fight against yellow fever in New Orleans, in 

 1905, in which Dr. Boyce, as volunteer, played an important part. The 

 hook is not limited, as its title would imply, to a consideration of the 

 mosquito in the transmission of disease but considers also, though 

 briefly, the part played by other insects the tsetse-fly, the rat flea, 

 ticks, and the housefly. The hookworm, too, is briefly included in the 

 discussion. 



Altogether, the volume is a fascinating one and should be read by 

 every one who wishes to keep in touch with the advances of preven- 

 tative medicine. He will put it down with the conviction that the author 

 is justified in his claim that the tropical world, long retarded in its 

 development by its reputation as "the white man's grave," is today be- 

 ing steadily and surely conquered. "The three great insect-carried 

 scourges of the tropics the greatest enemies that mankind has ever 

 had to contend with, namely malaria, yellow fever and sleeping sick- 

 ness are now fully in hand and giving way, and with their conquest 

 disappears the awful and grinding depression which seems to have 

 gripped our forefathers. * * * The tropical world is unfolding once 

 again to the pioneers of commerce who now do not dread the unseen 

 hand of death as did of old the Spanish Conquistadores of Columbus 

 and Cortes." WM. A. RILEY, Cornell University. 



ANNUAL REPORT of THE NEW JERSEY STATE MTSEUM. INCLUDING A 

 REPORT OF THE INSECTS OE NE\V JERSEY, 1009. This contains the Cura- 

 tor's Report ; Insects, their Classification and Distribution and a Sys- 

 temic List of the Insects of the State, Alphabetical Index to Localities, 



