1911] Book Review 209 



BOOK REVIEW. 

 THE REDUCTION OF DOMESTIC MOSQUITOES. 



Instructions for the use of municipalities, town councils, health officers, sanitary 

 inspectors, and residents in warm climates. By Edward H. Ross, pp. x-114. 

 Figs. 22. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia. 



The domestic mosquito is dangerous and should be exterminated in our towns 

 and cities. This is the message which Edward Ross's new book entitled, "The 

 Reduction of Domestic Mosquitoes" conveys. It does more than this, however, by 

 convincing us that it can be accomplished, for Edward Ross, after battling with 

 the ignorance of natives and the most adverse political conditions succeeded in 

 exterminating the Culicines as well as the Anophelines in Cairo and Port Said. 



The 6rst half of the book is concerned with the life histories of the Culicines and 

 the diseases which they spread; the second half with the means used in interesting 

 the people and the practical methods adopted towards exterminating the pests. 



"Deal with the domestic mosquito whether the Anopheline is present or not in 

 the town." Culex fatigans may not be dangerous in a certain locality while Stego- 

 myia calopus and the Anophelines are rapidly spreading diseases. Yet if Culex 

 fatigans is permitted to thrive, people will continue to be bitten, and the work will 

 fall into ill repute. It must not be forgotten that all mosquitoes are alike to the 

 average person. Culex is, however, usually dangerous, a fact which Ross empha- 

 sizes repeatedly. This insect is known to spread some diseases and probably does 

 more harm than we are aware of owing to the fact that the understanding of so 

 many illnesses, especially those of warm climates, are as yet in their infancy. 



This book is written in a popular way, even quite humorously at times, and is 

 intelligible to laymen as well as to professional guardians of the public health. For 

 this reason its good effects should be far reaching if the work is widely read. 



R. W. Glaser. 

 Bussey Institution. 



