188 M0;S(JL1T0ES 



CiiiKF Surgeon's Office, 

 Headqiartehs Department of Western Cuba, 

 QuEMADOS, Cuba, October 13, 1900. 



To the A(ljtit<t)it-(i(')irral itf tlic Department. 



Sir : I lijive till' honor to invite your uttontion to the follow- 

 ing facts and their bearinj^ on the health of the command : 



The role of the mosquito in the transmission of certain diseases 

 is now Avell established. The evidence is now [)erfect and con- 

 clusive that malaria, as well as filarial infections, are carried by 

 this insect, and there are reasons to suspect that it may be con- 

 nected with the transmission of yellow fever, also. 



Every consideration of prudence, as well as comfort, demands, 

 therefore, the protection from them of the commands at all posts. 

 It is believed that this can be done with a very slight expendi- 

 ture of time and trouble, by the enforcement by post commanders 

 of two precautions, namely : 



1. The enforcement of the use of mosquito-bars in all barracks 

 and especially in all hospitals. 



2. The destruction of the larvfe of young mosquitoes, com- 

 monly known as " wiggletails " or "wigglers, " by the use of 

 petroleum on the water where they breed. 



The mosipiito does not fly far, and seeks shelter when the wind 

 l)l()ws; so it is usually the case that every conimunity breeds its 

 own supply of niosciuitocs, in water-barrels, lire-buckets, or un- 

 dr.iined puddles, post-holes, etc. An application of one ounce of 

 kerijsene to each fifteen square feet of water once a month will 

 destroy not only all the young, but the adults who come to lay 

 their eggs. The water in any cistern or tank is not affected in 

 the least for drinking or washing purposes, if only it is drawn 

 from below and not dipped out. For pools or puddles of a some- 

 what permanent character, draining or tilling-up is the best 

 remedy. It is recommended that the medical oflBcer who makes 



