96 



Dust baths are apparently of no economic importance and should 

 not be relied upon either to control or eradicate the lice. Mud 

 wallows, however, exercise a considerable check on the pest. 



WiNCKEL (C. W. F.). Report of a Journey for studying Hygienic 

 Conditions in the United States of North America, Panama and 

 Cuba, made by the Order of the Netherlands Minister for Colonial 

 Affairs. — Meded. Burgerlijk. Geneesk. Dienst. Nederlandsch Indie, 

 Batavia, 1919, no. 1, pp. 1-84, 10 plates. 



The eradication of yellow fever in Havana and Panama, anti- 

 malaria work at Panama and anti-plague work at New Orleans, are 

 among the subjects here reported on. 



VAN Breemen (M. L.). Malaria in Weltevreden and Batavia. — Meded. 

 Burgerlijk. Geneesk. Dienst. Nederlandsch- Indie, Batavia, 1919, 

 no. 2, pp. 1-40, 3 maps. 



The data regarding the distribution of malaria at Batavia, compiled 

 by the Sanitary Service in 1918, are here summarised, the increased 

 death rate in July, August and September being attributed to this 

 disease. Attention is drawn to the relation that probably exists 

 between the monthly rainfall and malaria, more favourable conditions 

 for the increase of mosquitos occurring in seasons when the rainfall 

 is poor. 



The Anophelines recorded in Batavia are Anopheles ludlowi, A. rossi, 

 A. rossi indefinitus, A. aconitus, A. fuliginosvs, A. jamesi, A. punctu- 

 lalus, A. kochi, A. barbirostris, A. umbrosus, A. sinensis and A. sinensis 

 albipes. Mosquitos captured indoors from September 1917 to April 

 1918 included 5,676 A. ludlowi and 2,922 A. rossi, while all the other 

 species were represented by 181 individuals only. It is noteworthy 

 that in the areas where a high spleen index was found, A. ludlowi 

 and A. rossi were caught indoors. The breeding-places of the former 

 were not found near houses, proving that this species travels consider- 

 able distances in search of blood. Of the mosquitos caught indoors 

 3,813 A. ludloivi and 1,606 A. rossi were examined, and 51 (r3 per cent.) 

 of the former and 5 (0*3 per cent.) of the latter were found to be infected. 

 Some of each of the other species were examined, but with a negative 

 result. A. ludlowi would therefore appear to be the principal carrier 

 of malaria. A. aconitus, which has been stated to be a dangerous 

 vector in the hilly districts of West Java, is apparently of little import- 

 ance at Batavia. In this district the northern areas abound in fish- 

 ponds which, though a source of food and revenue, must be held 

 responsible for a large amount of malaria. Mosquito breeding-places 

 are abundant in these areas and the spleen-index is high. Breeding- 

 places decrease in number towards the south and finally disappear 

 altogether, but the spleen-index remains high and^. ludlowi is abundant 

 indoors. The author considers the endemicity of malaria in this 

 district to be due to an invasion of the southern areas by A. ludlowi 

 from the north. In the case of areas with a low spleen-index and 

 few A. ludlowi, lying immediately to the south of others with a high 

 spleen-index and abundant A. ludlowi, the theory is advanced that 

 the southern area is protected by the mass of inhabitants in the 

 area to the north of it. 



