REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 473 



eminent men, there appeared to be a good reason for the existcnc of malaria 

 in their immediate neighborhoods. 



The work of pouring petroleum upon the ponds and brooks was begun in 

 the spring of 1900, or very soon after the "mosquito theory" was established, 

 and has been continued up to the present time. It was subsequently taken up 

 by other municipalities in the neighborhood. It is too early to begin to look 

 for any decided results and no further canvass, such as that already described, 

 has been made. Throughout the town there has been no marked diminution 

 in the apparent number of mosquitoes, although in some places close by ponds 

 certain persons have expressed themselves as being annoyed less than for- 

 merl}'-. It remains to be seen whether continued work along this line will 

 have any effect. There is no doubt that a large proportion of the mosquitoes 

 which are annually seen in Montclair are blown here from localities which 

 have greater surface of quiet waters, and should the treatment which is now 

 in progress upon the brooks and ponds located here be entirely effective in 

 the destruction of local larvaj, we would still have the presence of these in- 

 sects. No permanent relief will be secured until the practice becomes uni- 

 versal, so that we can, at most, do only a part." 



The following year the work was taken up by me. and Mr. Leighton's 

 method of oiling was continued, and more ponds were located and treated 

 than in the j-ear preceding. A report was made to the Board of Health on 

 the habits of the Culex mosquito and the Anopheles mosquito and, among 

 others, the following recommendations were made : 



First — That a study of the varieties of the mosquitoes to be found in 

 Montclair be made. 



Second — Th^t a special search for the breeding places of the Anopheles 

 mosquito should be carried on. 



Third — That the oiling of the ponds should be continued and extended to 

 man-hole pools. 



Fourth — The maintenance of privy vaults shovild be discouraged. 



Fifth — That owners of private ponds should be encouraged to stock them 

 with goldfish, sunfish or minnows. 



Sixth — That the Board should send out a circular to every householder 

 in town, urging them to co-operate in the attempts of the Board to exter- 

 minate mosquitoes. 



This was done and the following circular was sent out : 



" Prevention of Malari.v and Mosquito Extermination. 



" When mosquitoes were discovered to be the means of transmitting malaria 

 from one person to another it became evident that the Board of Health must 

 undertake the problem of mosquito extermination. In Montclair the work 

 has been carried on for two years with gratifying results. However, the 

 Board of Health feels that the work should be prosecuted with more vigor, 

 and to this end they urge the citizens to co-operate. 



" Mosquitoes breed in slow-running, quiet, or stagnant water and nowhere 

 else; by doing away with these places the insects may be exterminated. The 

 Board has been making the chief breeding places uninhabitable by spray- 

 ing them with oil, but any small pool which remains on the surf.icc of the 

 ground for a few days is likely to become infested with larva;. So it is 

 evident that there must be many places on private grounds where the 

 pests multiply. These pools and damp places should be drained, or filled in. 



" Rain barrels and water tanks should be done away with wherever it is 

 possible to do so. When they must be maintained they should be carefully 

 covered with mosquito netting. Under no circumstances should flower vases. 

 wash-tubs and pails be allowed to stand about half-filled with water. Cistern- 

 and privies should be made so tight that mosquitoes cannot enter them to 

 lay their eggs, and gutters should be kept unclogged that no puddles may 

 form in them. Manure piles should be covered and frequently removed, so 

 that water may not collect about them. 



