56 Proceedings of the First Convention 



In olden times sparsely settled communities were able to 

 withstand the nuisance and annoyance of this pest from force 

 of habit, but as centres of population increased the disagreeable, 

 disquieting mosquito aroused greater attention, until the time 

 has come for large public improvements planned to check the 

 wholesale multiplication of the insect. 



The fact that certain species of the mosquito conveys from 

 person to person malarial poisons, is of itself of such conse- 

 quence in injuriously affecting the public health as to demand 

 from the people and public authorities the promotion of meas- 

 ures to prevent the propagation of these insects. 



It is only by broad, well-planned, extended means, aided 

 by the public sentiment and money, that these greatly desired 

 ends can be accomplished. 



Vast areas of swamp lands surrounding thickly populated 

 sections are the breeding places for mosquitoes. Treatment of 

 such land in the way of drainage, to render it mosquito proof, 

 requires expenditures far in excess of the abilities of local 

 communities to stand, and for this reason aid should be given 

 either by the State or the general Government on the same 

 principle that, aid is now given in the betterment of public 

 highways, irrigation and agriculture. 



The Government could assist in the betterment of the drain- 

 age of rivers and canals in connection with localized plans for 

 the improvement of mosquito breeding grounds, and could co- 

 operate to make the plans effective. 



Congress should enact special legislation upon this subject, 

 conferring power upon the Agricultural or War Department, 

 under certain restrictions, to aid States or other communities in 

 intelligently carrying out comprehensive plans for the extirpa- 

 tion of the mosquito. 



Experience has proven that when scientific, systematic, 

 well-engineered methods of draining have been pursued in a 

 broad, comprehensive way, remarkable benefits have resulted. 

 It is to be hoped a new era has begun in eradicating this com- 

 mon pest from our midst. 



Dr. Junor: I would like to ask a question. I would like 

 to ask the gentlemen here for its solution. The question is 

 whether the mosquito, Culex Sollicitans, will live in pure sea 



