INITIATING THE CAMPAIGN 81 



in earth-work. This does not mean, however, that he will not 

 need careful drilling in the objectives, methods and management 

 of anti-mosquito drainage work. He should also be given some 

 idea as to the costs of this class of work. 



For the first few weeks at least, the director himself should 

 lay out the ditches. He should also frequently inspect the work 

 to assure himself that money is not being wasted by divergence 

 from his instructions. 



It is the inspection staff, however, that should be picked with 

 the utmost care. An inspector must be tactful, honest, energetic ; 

 he must also have a good working knowledge of mosquito eradi- 

 cation in general, so that when he uncovers a breeding place, he 

 will know at once what measures to take in dealing with it, 

 whether to drain, oil or stock with fish. He should also be able 

 to identify at once any of the disease-bearing mosquitoes. 



If the inspector is not tactful, he will get the campaign "in 

 wrong;" if he is lazy and dishonest, he will lie as to conditions; 

 if he does not understand the work, he will increase costs and 

 reduce the efficiency of the campaign. It is imperative to get 

 good men for this work. Such men as described are not picked 

 up everywhere. Generally, the writer has had to train his own 

 men; but it is essential that they be made of the right material. 



LePrince 1 says: 



"The success of the work will depend very largely on the ability and 

 personal interest taken in the work by the inspector or foreman in 

 charge of the oiling and the oiling squad. There must be one reliable 

 and active person held responsible for the efficienc}' of the field work. 

 He must go to all possible production areas at frequent intervals and see 

 and know that the work is being satisfactorily performed, that no known 

 places are missed, that no mosquito larvae reach the pupal stage of 

 development and that places needing attention are promptly attended 

 to. A knowledge of the local conditions of topograph} 7 and possibilities 

 of water being retained in any locality during unusually wet seasons 

 is essential. When the pools, ditches and stream-beds become drj', 

 they must be re-inspected after showers, as some of them may retain 

 water in pools and need attention. This frequently happens in out-of- 

 the-way places. The inspector must never assume that everything is 

 in a satisfactory condition, but must go and see and be certain of it." 



In regard to laborers, LePrince adds : 



1 "Control of Malaria: Oiling As an Anti-mosquito Measure," U. S. 

 Public Health Service, 1915. 

 6 



