178 3i()S(jr/'roi':s 



[Letter from the M(n/nr.\ 



"\Vix(I1i:sti;k, \'a., Uctoliur .">, I'JOO. 

 Dr. L. O. Howard, 



EntDHioloyical Bureau Acjrirnltaral Dep't, 



Washington, J). C. 



Dear Sir : I have for some time h;ul it in iiiiiid to write you 

 an ac('(tunt of our war afj^aiust the luowiuitoes in this town ; 

 thinking that iiiasniueh as we made tlie fijjcht alou}.? the line of 

 your published suggestions you would be interested in learning 

 the extent of our success. 



Until about ten years ago a nios(iuito in Winchester was as rare 

 as a horse in Venice. About ten years ago, the increase in their 

 numbers beg.an to be apparent, but it was not until five or six 

 years ago that they became a positive annoyance. Their advent 

 here was attributed to a line of parlor ears established as a night 

 train on the B. & O. R. K. , running from Camden Station, Balti- 

 more, in the summer-time. This may have added to the num- 

 ber, for recent investigation has shown that the returning empty 

 cattle cars, which stand for a time at the stock-yards in Balti- 

 more, bring great numbers of mosciuitoes all along this mountain 

 country wherever the trains run. 



My own opinion, however, is that we owe the great increase to 

 the scanty original stock here, which was enabled vastly to 

 multiply its numbers because of a new and much extended sys- 

 tem of water-works, which led to the greatly increased use of 

 bath-tubs and water-closets ; and having no system of sewerage, 

 the excessive use and waste of water stands in luimerous cess- 

 pools, which are the i>rolitic l>rretling-i>la('es of tlie mosquito. 

 Then, too, there is a stream of water, arched over where the streets 

 cross, which, after heavy rains and when the regular stream has 

 subsided to its ordinary dinu-nsions, consists of a large number 



