192 



SOME SOUTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. CHAP. XX. 



(Central India). 



li will be readilj seen by merely casual inspection of the fore- 

 going list that many of the most serious dis< ases are carried bj 

 insects, of which house-flies, mosquitos and bed-bugs arc probably 



the most noxious to man. It is not within the scope of this hook to 

 enter into the treatment of the various insect-borne diseases but, on 

 the principle that " prevention is better than cure." the following 

 recommendations may be added : 



(i) Avoid the bites of all blood-sucking insects as fai as 

 possible. Mosquito- and fly-proof rooms should be as necessar) 

 adjuncts of an Indian bungalow as verandahs, but are rarely seen. 

 The use of mosquito-boots in the evening and invariable use of 

 mosquito-nets at night will, however, largely help to reduce risk of 

 infe< tion. It is unfortunately often the ease that the new arrival in 

 the tropics is looked down on with scorn simpl) because he is 

 naturally at first intolerant of the many insect-plagues of every day 

 life and that many dispense with mosquito-nets and such safeguards 

 from an ignorance which passes for bravado. When travelling il 

 may sometimes be impossible to sleep under a net and in such 

 circumstances a supply of some repellent, such as mosquito-oil, 

 should always be carried and used. 



(ii) A little systematic attention to the sanitary conditions of 

 the bungalow, outbuildings and compound will usually bring about 

 ,t vast reduction in disease-carrying insects. A Sunday morning 

 round of inspection will often reveal a hitherto unsuspected accu- 

 mulation of old tins and other receptacles for water lying about the 

 compound, flower-pots, water-cans, hollow trees, cut bamboo-stumps, 

 etc.. all merrily breeding mosquitos, whilst the hordes of Hies invad- 

 ing the bungalow and kitchen may be traced to the manure thrown 

 down outside the stable and perhaps also to a pile of kitchen-refuse. 

 A very little regular attention lo such details will work wonders. 



