

CHAPTER III 

 DEVELOPMENT OF CONTROL MEASURES 



HISTORICAL ASPECTS 



For centuries, the origin of the mosquito-borne diseases was 

 shrouded in mystery. At times they were, in common with 

 other diseases, regarded as scourges sent by God to punish man. 

 Finally, during the Middle Ages, malaria was discovered to be a 

 definite disease, with definite symptoms and attributes. As 

 it was generally prevalent in low, swampy areas, where humid 

 mists and vapors arose, it is not surprising that the disease was 

 believed to be caused by this unhealthful atmosphere. From 

 this belief, the disease derived its name, mal being the Italian 

 word for "bad" and aria being the equivalent for "air." 



Yellow fever was for many years considered as a form of 

 malaria, and only in comparatively recent times was it discovered 

 to be a distinct disease. 



This belief as to the origin of malaria and yellow fever continued 

 until well into the nineteenth century, when here and there a 

 physician arose who, expressed the opinion that there was some 

 connection between malaria and mosquitoes. A great step 

 forward was made in 1880, when Alphonse Laveran, a French 

 army surgeon, announced the discovery of the malaria parasite 

 in the blood of persons suffering from malaria. In 1884, Laveran 

 joined the protagonists of the mosquito theory, but was unable 

 to offer definite proof as to the soundness of the belief. 



Fifteen years later, Sir Ronald Ross, a British army surgeon 

 working in India, discovered the parasites described by Laveran 

 in the stomach walls of Anopheles mosquitoes which had been 

 allowed to bite persons infected with malaria, and demonstrated 

 that they underwent certain changes while in the body of the 

 mosquito. The life-cycle of the parasite was soon afterward 

 worked out and the whole course of the disease laid bare. Final 

 proof of the correctness of the theory of transmission was afforded 

 in 1900, when Manson and Warren were bitten in London by 

 infected mosquitoes forwarded from Italy, and shortly thereafter 



developed malaria. 



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