OTHER MEASURES AND EXPEDIENTS 215 



3. At Trinitapoli itself, Rizzi records, several broods of mos- 

 quitoes, hatched from larvae in nearby ponds, suddenly emerged. 

 St ables in the vicinity of the ponds were first invaded, then stables 

 nearer town and, finally, some outlying houses. Anti-mosquito 

 measures were then pressed, and the invasion was arrested, vir- 

 tually no mosquitoes entering the town itself. The conclusion 

 seems to be that the stables attracted the mosquitoes and 

 detained them long enough to enable the anti-mosquito measures 

 to be applied. 



Rizzi, however, emphasizes the fact that reliance on the attrac- 

 tions of stables, etc., is not sufficient in itself. He appears to 

 believe that the use of animals in this way is merely one factor that 

 may be of advantage in connection with the usual anti-mosquito 

 measures, and this view appears reasonable to the writer. Where 

 stables can be located between the dwelling and a marsh, pond or 

 similar breeding-place, it is believed advantageous so to locate 

 them. Use of land between the dwelling and the breeding-place 

 for a pasture might also be advantageous. 



APPLICATION OF SUBSTANCES REPELLENT TO MOSQUITOES 



This measure cannot be relied upon to any great extent, as 

 most of the substances in use at present evaporate within a few 

 hours, and the mosquitoes return. 



These substances are generally used at night. They are either 

 rubbed on the face and hands or dropped on the pillow or on a 

 towel which is hung over the head of the bed. 



Oil of citronella probably is the most efficacious of the mos- 

 quito-repelling substances now in use. Others employed include 

 spirits of camphor, oil of peppermint, oil of pennyroyal, lemon- 

 juice, vinegar and kerosene. Several patented preparations are 

 also on the market. None of these seem to last until morning, 

 however. 



The writer has found bi-weekly or tri-weekly oiling of the floor 

 with kerosene is about as effective as anything else along this line. 

 The odor, of course, is more or less disagreeable to the person 

 occupying the room, but it is equally as disagreeable to the 

 mosquitoes, and, as a result, they usually keep out. 



Another procedure that may conveniently be mentioned here is 

 that of making a smudge. This measure is tolerably effective, 

 as the mosquitoes generally flee from the smoke, but it is almost 

 as objectionable to the occupants of the room as the mosquitoes 



