ROSS OX ANTI-MOSQUITO WORK 425 



done in the United States was carried on in the most intelligent way by the North 

 Shore Improvement Association of Long Island, mentioned above. Here as an 

 initial step work was done by the superintendent and engineer, Mr. H. C. Weeks, 

 during the summer of 1901. Mr. Weeks completed the survey of the large terri- 

 tory and estimated the cost of all operations. Another survey was made by two 

 biologists. Prof. C. B. Davenport and Mr. F. E. Lutz, of the Cold Spring 

 Harbor Laboratory, then of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and 

 now of the Carnegie Institution. These gentlemen positively identified all 

 breeding-places. Still another survey was made by the late Prof. N". S. Shaler, 

 of Harvard University, who advised concerning the best methods of reclaiming 

 the salt marshes included in the territory, where certain species of mosquitoes 

 breed. Upon the basis of these surveys and reports the Association began in 

 1902 its active work of extermination. 



The following is a summary, by Sir Eonald Eoss, of the aims of anti-mosquito 

 work, and it is so admirable that it is quoted in full : 



" Summary of objects : — 



"(1) . We do not propose to exterminate mosquitoes in any entire continent. 



We propose only to deal with tltem in the town in which we live, and in its 

 suburbs. 



"(2). We do not propose to get rid of every mosquito even in this town. 



We aim only at reducing the number of the insects as much as possible. 



"(3). We do not think it possible to drain or otherwise treat every breeding 

 place in the town. 



We aim at dealing with as many as possible. 



"(4). We cannot exclude mosquitoes which may just possibly be blown into 

 the town from miles away. 



We content ourselves ivith preveniing the insects breeding in the toivn itself. 



" Summary of methods : — 



*' ( 1 ) . We start work at once with whatever means we can scrape together. 



" ( 2 ) . We operate from a centre outwards. 



"(3) . We clear houses, backj^ards, and gardens of all rubbish ; empty tubs and 

 cisterns containing larvae, or destroy the larvae in them by means of oil. 



"(4). We show people how to do these things for themselves, and how to pro- 

 tect tubs and cisterns by means of wire gauze. 



"(5) . When we have cleared as many houses as we determine to deal with, we 

 clear them over again and again. 



"(6) . We fill up or drain away all the pools, ditches, old wells, and puddles we 

 can — especially those which contain most larva?. 



" ( 7 ) . Such pools as cannot be filled up or drained are deepened and cleared 

 of weeds, if they contain larvae. 



"(8). Streams and water courses which possess larvae are 'trained.' 



"(9) . Where we can do nothing else we destroy the larvfe periodically with oil, 

 or by brushing them out ^r].ih. brooms, or by other means. 



"(10). We endeavour to interest our neighbours in the work, and to educate 

 the town into maintaining a special gang of men for the purpose of keeping the 

 streets and gardens absolutely free of stagnant, mosquito-bearing water. 



" Motto. — Our motto should be one which I think will shortly become the 

 first law of tropical sanitation, namely — No Stagnant Water." 



After concluding an account of his own personal work at Lloyds Neck, Long 

 Island, and of the work done by the North Shore Improvement Association, Mr. 



