225 



Dubois (R.). Sur la destruction des Moustiques par les Anguilles. — 



Bull. Agyic. Alger ie-Tunisie-Maroc, Algiers, xxviii, no. 7, 

 July 1922, pp. 197-198; also in C. R. hebdom. Acad. Sci., 

 Paris, clxxv, no. 10, 4th September 1922, pp. 431-432. 



Eels have been proved to be of great value in destroying numerous 

 aquatic insects in France, and they also feed on the young stages of 

 mosquitos. One tank heavily infested with mosquito larvae was found 

 to be free from them after the introduction of eels. Even the adult 

 mosquitos are snapped at when the eels come to the surface to breathe, 

 as they do in polluted water. Experimentally these fish have been 

 transferred from salt to fresh water and also kept in waters of various 

 degrees of pollution without any apparent detrimental effect on them. 

 This capacity for resistance to varying conditions and the facility 

 with which they can be obtained and transported in large numbers 

 are factors in favour of utilising them against mosquitos. 



Balfour (A.). Report on Medical and Sanitary Matters in Mauritius, 



1921. — London, 1922, f'scap. fol., vii + 168 pp., 3 maps, 5 plans, 

 1 chart, 2 graphs, 130 plates. 



In this report of the investigations undertaken in 1921 into the 

 sanitary conditions of Mauritius and the measures needed to improve 

 the health of the population, the general features of the Colony are 

 outlined. 



As regards insect-borne diseases, little is known about the incidence 

 and distribution of filariasis, but Culex fatigans is a vector of Filaria 

 {Microfilaria) hancrofti. Possibly other species are concerned, as 

 Aedes {Stegomyia) alhopictus [scutellaris) and Anopheles costalis are wide- 

 spread, the former being a knov/n vector in Malaya, and the latter on 

 the west coast of Africa. Plague had been absent since 1915, but 

 in 1921 one rat was found infected with Bacillus pestis, and during 

 the author's visit there was a recrudescence of the disease. Although 

 lice are prevalent, there is no definite evidence to show that typhus 

 exists or has existed in Mauritius. 



Anopheles costalis is the principal and probably the only vector of 

 malaria. A. maculipalpis is rare, and A. mauriiianus is still regarded 

 as not transmitting the disease. A. costalis does not breed in shady 

 places, partly owing to the absence of algae, and does not seek the 

 shelter of stables and cowsheds. Observations on the breeding-places 

 and hibernation of this species, and the possible value of Culex tigripes 

 in destroying its broods have already been noticed [R.A.E., B, x, 106]. 

 A brief summary is given of anti-mosquito measures. 



The author urges the importance of extending invitations to research 

 workers to visit Mauritius and endeavour to solve several of the more 

 pressing problems there. The difficulties of rendering the island 

 healthy in a short space of time are many, but if this can be done, 

 its future might be assured [cf. R.A.E., B, x, 94]. 



Macfie (J. W. S.) & Ingram (A.). Accra Laboratory Report for the 

 Year 1921.— Merf. Res. Inst., Accra, 1922, pp. 41-51. 



During 1921 two mosquitos new to Accra, Eretmopodites quinque- 

 vittatus, Theo., and Culex annulioris, Theo., were reared from larvae, 

 bringing the total number of species recorded from this district up 

 to 64. Of 532 larvae taken in samples, 71-6 per cent, were Aedes 

 argenteus, Poir. {Stegomyia fasciata, F.), and 22-9 per cent. Culex 



