i6 



meet the expenditure required for the scheme proposed by 

 him ; and that usually brings the praiseworthy project to 

 an abrupt conclusion. 



Unless the superintendent happens to be an agent of 

 government employed for the work, which is at present not 

 very likely to be the case, this is pretty sure to happen in 

 connection with any project for ridding a town of mosquitoes. 

 The government or municipality will reply that it is not 

 their business to kill mosquitoes ; that they already possess 

 an expensive and efficient health department ; and that if 

 householders wish to get rid of mosquitoes, they had better 

 destroy their own larvae. And as householders certainly 

 will not take the trouble to do anything of the kind, the 

 matter will rest there, and the mosquitoes will continue to 

 thrive as before. 



From my own experience, I advise the self-appointed 

 superintendent to adopt a much more practical and effec- 

 tive course. He should go at once to the principal banking 

 establishment in the town ; inform the managers that he 

 intends to open a fund for a campaign against mosquitoes; 

 ask for good terms,* and put down an initial deposit out 

 of his own salary (obtained as mentioned in paragraph 7). 

 Next he should go round to his personal friends, to the 

 principal business houses in the town, and to anyone else 

 he can think of ; inform them that he has already opened 

 the fund, and ask for as much money, up to four figures, as 

 they are willing to give. I should be much surprised if he 

 does not find himself in possession of a handsome little 

 account within a few days.f 



* I obtain 3 per cent, interest on all deposits, and transfers to the tropics 

 free of cost. 



t For our West African Fund, I have started with between two and three 

 thousand pounds, and promises of as much more as we shall require. 



