REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 121 



gutters chloride of lime liberally applied or chloronaptholeum 

 diluted and used as a disinfectant may serve as a cure ; temporary 

 of course and a makeshift for proper drainage. 



Cisterns, where they serve as a source of water supply, should 

 be completely covered if possible, with overflow and inlet 

 screened with wire netting. Where that is not possible, a few 

 "killies," "roach," "shiners" or other little fish of that character 

 may be introduced and will take care of all the larvae that may 

 appear. Even sunfish or goldfish will answer where "minnows" 

 are unavailable, and they will not foul the water as much as the 

 moscjuito population would do. 



Rain barrels, where they are necessary, should be treated like 

 the cisterns and they will maintain killies very well. If fish are 

 not available, a coating of kerosene will not render the water 

 unfit for use if it can be drawn from a spigot at the lower 

 portion. 



Pools in vacant lots are prolific sources of supply and these 

 should be filled in all cases or drained into the sewer or other 

 general drainage system. In a city or town where the ashes and 

 garbage are collected by the municipality the ashes and dry waste 

 can be used for such filling as is necessary. Whatever the method 

 that is most available, which will vary under different circum- 

 stances, the object must be to get rid of the accumulations of 

 surface water. Attention should be again called to the avail- 

 ability of the vegetable growth that is usually rank in moist spots 

 to serve as a filler in shallow areas. It does not make a perma- 

 nent or solid filling but it fills the water so that mosquito larvae 

 cannot readily move about in it. while the adults cannot reach 

 the surface to oviposit. 



There remain to be considered those accidental receptacles like 

 tin cans, old buckets, tubs, etc., that may be anywhere in back 

 yards, in vacant lots, in dumps, or even in cellars. For such 

 breeding places the individual maintaining them must be made 

 to feel responsibility in some way. Generally it is only necessary 

 to point out to the individual concerned that he is the chief 

 sufferer, to induce him to take the necessary steps. A case in 

 point is a row of cottages in a sea shore resort where moscjuitoes 

 in some numbers occurred on all porches ; but on one in particular 

 life was almost unbearable as darkness set in. Investigation 

 showed an unused rain barrel half filled with water swarming 

 with larvae of all sizes, and pupae from which adults were con- 

 stantly emerging. Half a cup of kerosene placed the porch on 

 an equality with its neighbors. 



It seems, at first sight, as if a great deal was required ; but it 

 must be remembered that most of the methods recommended 



