143 



often mere shacks, lacking any attempt to exclude mosquitos, often 

 spread infection. Adult dragonfiies exert some check upon the 

 increase of mosquitos, but are not an efficient control. Organised 

 quinine prophjdaxis and treatment, together with anti-mosquito 

 precautions, would materially decrease the incidence of malaria. 



Herms (W. B.). a State-wide Malaria-Mosquito Survey of California. 

 — Jl. Econ. Entom., Goncord, N.H., x, no. 3, June 1917, 

 pp. 359-370. 



The author reviews the history of the anti- mosquito campaign in 

 California from its beginning and records the passing of the " Mosquito 

 Abatement District Act " in 1915. The fourteen species of mosquitos 

 in California listed by Quayle in 1906 are enumerated. In May 1916, 

 a systematic mosquito survey was undertaken by the author, assisted 

 by S. B. Freeborn, acting under the State Board of Health, and between 

 that date and 14th August, 6,446 miles had been covered, Anopheline 

 breeding places being located throughout the journey, while information 

 and demonstrations were given to the inhabitants of the infested 

 localities. In many cases the author had the satisfaction of seeing his 

 methods of mosquito control carried out before he left a district. As 

 a result of his observations he is convinced that Anophelines do not 

 wander far from their larval habitat, and therefore the discovery of an 

 individual generally results in the locating of its breeding place in the 

 near vicinity. The chief source of Anophelines was usually the green, 

 scum-covered edge of a small receding stream, or a grassy, weed-grown 

 pool of clear water. It is evident that Anophelines prefer clear, cool 

 water rather than stagnant pools. While the distribution of Anopheles 

 is wider than was supposed, the author is convinced that the malaria 

 menace can be brought under control. This is considered a matter 

 of detail, intensive rather than extensive, and calls for the assistance 

 of specially trained men. In the author's opinion, far too little 

 attention is paid to the irrigation methods in North California, the 

 ^ malaria menace not being \dthin the scope of work of the engineer 

 who is entrusted with the irrigation and drainage. It is hoped that 

 as a result of this survey many newly-organised mosquito-abatement 

 districts will be formed under the act mentioned above, but the greatest 

 good arising from such a survey is the educational value of the infor- 

 mation disseminated among the inhabitants of the malaria-infested 

 districts. 



Cooperation to Banish Mosquitos. — Mthly. Bull. Col. State Bd. Health, 

 Sacmmenlo, xii, no, 12, June 1917, pp. 309-311. 



In the district of Los Molinos, where mosquito conditions are bad, 

 and where funds are insufficient for the organisation of paid workers, 

 volunteers have come forward in large numbers, giving their services 

 for one day and often bringing teams with them. These voluntary 

 workers drained [sloughs, filled depressions, oiled pools of standing 

 water, and helped to clear vegetation so that standing water would 

 drain into creeks or rivers to a point where it can be collected and oiled. 

 It is hoped, by the organisation of further days of voluntary labour, to 

 complete the necessary work and thus greatly ameliorate the existing 

 malarial conditions. 



