93 



of 14-2 per 100,000, which is considerably more than twice as high as 

 that of Mississippi — a notoriously malarial State. In the mosquito 

 survey of California [R.A.E., B, vi, 70] the species of Anopheliues 

 collected were Anopheles quadrimaculatus (inclusive of A. occidenfalis), 

 A. 2)unctipenni6- and A. 'pseudofunctipennis. The first two are 

 definitely carriers of malaria, but A. pseudopunctipennis may be safelv 

 disregarded in malaria control operations. Apart from deficient 

 drainage, breeding- places are afforded, though in a less degree, by the 

 chains of pools in stream beds in summer, and marshes in foothill 

 meadows after melting snow has flooded the mountain streams. 

 Remedial measures produce good results in districts where funds are 

 sufficient ; but over the greater part of the country they are inadequate, 

 the present Act being unable to raise enough in inland districts where 

 the value of land is low, and State aid is therefore essential. 



The financial loss to California due to malaria is heavy owing to the 

 loss of efficiency caused [R.A.E., B, vi, 168 ; viii, 64]." The^ annual 

 amount required for control is about £20,000, which would diminish 

 in a few years, while the annual loss is at least £320,000. 



Herms (W. B.). Occurrence of Malaria and Anopheline Mosquitoes 

 in Middle and Southern California.— M^/;7//. Bull California 

 State Bd. Health, Sacramento, xv, no. 7, January 1920. pp. 211-216. 

 [Received 22nd March 1920.] 



This is a report of some of the work done in the malaria-mosquito 

 survey of California [R.A.E., B, vi, 70]. Tables are given showing 

 the population of the various districts, the malaria death rate, the 

 occurrence and distribution of Anopheline mosquitos in general, 

 and of each kind in particular. Anopheles quadri)naculatus and 

 A. punctipennis are regarded as effective carriers, while A. fseudo- 

 pimctipennis is negligible. The conclusions drawn show that the 

 relation between potentially effective Anojjheline carriers alone and 

 the malaria rate should not be exaggerated. There are many other 

 factors, such as temperature or proximity of population to Anopheline 

 foci, to be considered. 



Freeborn (S. B.). The Business of Malaria Control. — Mthly. Bull. 

 California State Bd. Health, Sacramento, xv, no. 7, Januarv 1920, 

 pp. 217-220. [Received 22nd March 1920.] 



The author's summary of this paper is as follows : — 

 The average rural district under the administration of the Mosquito 

 Abatement District Act will return ihd. an acre in taxes. Mosquito 

 control work on 21 projects costs on the average £10 an acre. 

 Legislation authorising the levying of taxes for purposes of malaria 

 control on the basis of assessed benefits, with relief from responsibility 

 constituting a benefit, will raise sufficient funds and place the cost on 

 the responsible parties. In a few rural districts that constitute the- 

 " sore spots " of malaria, the problem is too difficult to be handled 

 by the taxpayers. For these districts the State should appropriate a 

 sum of money, payable over consecutive years, for the control of the 

 work. 



