PERSONAL PROTECTION 455 



Howard found that moist soap rubbed on the bites was the most 

 satisfactory remedy in his own personal experience. 



Probably no remedy or disinfectant, no matter how quickly 

 applied after an infected mosquito has been sucking blood, would 

 be effective in preventing infection with malaria, yellow fever 

 or dengue. Filaria and Dermatobia infections, however, could 

 probably be prevented in this manner, since it takes an ap- 

 preciable time for the larvae to enter the skin in the vicinity of the 

 wound. 



Control and Extermination 



The control of mosquitoes may be undertaken in the following 

 ways, in order of permanent usefulness: (1) personal protection 

 by the use of repellents on or near the person, or of protective 

 clothing; (2) the elimination and exclusion of mosquitoes from 

 dwellings; (3) the local destruction of larvae by the use of 

 temporary " larvicides " ; (4) the prevention of breeding by 

 obliterating breeding places or making them uninhabitable. 



Personal Protection. This method of dealing with mos- 

 quitoes has no permanent value whatever, and does nothing to 

 lessen the number of mosquitoes, but it is indispensible to the 

 hunter or visitor in mosquito-infested places. Concerning the 

 use of protective clothing, little need be said; the value of gloves, 

 veils, high boots, leggings, etc., is obvious. 



The use of " mosquito dope," or ointments repellent to mos- 

 quitoes, on the exposed skin is a popular but usually disappoint- 

 ing safeguard against attacks by these insects. The number of 

 popular repellents for mosquitoes is as great, if not greater, than 

 the number of popular applications for the bites. Nearly all 

 of these are unquestionably effective while they last, but they 

 all have the disadvantage of losing their power by evaporation 

 in a short time, and therefore have to be renewed at frequent 

 intervals. Spirits of camphor, oil of pennyroyal, oil of pepper- 

 mint, lemon juice, vinegar, anise oil and oil of citronella are 

 all effective protectors while they last. Oil of citronella has 

 been most widely used in America. This mixed with an equal 

 amount by weight of spirits of camphor and half as much oil of 

 cedar is a mixture recommended by Dr. Howard, and one which 

 the author has used with good results. A few drops of this mix- 

 ture poured on a bath towel at the head of a bed, and a little 



