6 



THE HISTORY OF MOSQUITO CONTROL 

 IN NEW JERSEY 



A NUMBER OF PERSONS, among whom should be included particularly 

 Dr. John B. Smith and Spencer Miller, were giving serious 

 thought to the mosquito problem in New Jersey previous to the turn 

 of the century. In 1900 Dr. Smith secured from the director of the New 

 Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station a small sum of money for a 

 preliminary investigation. 



On June 27, 1901, Dr. Smith sent out the following communication 

 over his name to the various boards of health in the state : 



"It is my intention to devote some time during the present season to 

 an investigation of the mosquito question as it exists at the present 

 time in New Jersey. The recently established connection between ma- 

 laria and mosquitoes makes this matter important from the sanitary 

 standpoint and gives it a direct bearing upon the health of the com- 

 munity. For this reason I have asked the cooperation of the State 

 Board of Health and have received from its secretary, Dr. Henry 

 Mitchell, cordial assurance of support. 



"It is necessary, however, to make my work complete, that I should 

 also enlist the cooperation of local boards throughout the state ; there- 

 fore I beg you for information on the following points : 



"1. Is 'malaria' a prevalent disease within your jurisdiction, i.e. 

 are the cases at all numerous.? 



"2. If cases are numerous, are they localized, or are they scattered 

 throughout the community ? 



"3. Is one case apt to be followed by others close by? 



"4. Are mosquitoes numerous in your jurisdiction, and if so, are they 

 generally spread or is one part of the district more infested than 

 others ? 



"5. Have you observed any relation between the abundance of mos- 

 quitoes and the prevalence of malaria? 



"6. If mosquitoes are plentiful can you tell where they breed? 



"7. Will you send me from time to time specimens of the troublesome 



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