40 



adequate powers by law, and were indeed created. Friendly 

 representation to the powers that be will generally suffice, 

 especially if sweeping and costly measures are not ad- 

 vocated and such will seldom be required. As the 

 citizens begin to see the sense and value of the work the 

 municipality will begin to take it up more and more. If 

 it remains refractory, petitions to government and quiet 

 letters to influential papers will soon remove its opposition. 

 As I said before, the great thing to do is to make a begin- 

 ning ; and the work is of such a nature that, once begun, 

 it is not likely to be dropped, unless the local intelligence 

 is very much below par. 



After the original work has been completed, the bulk 

 of the old pots and tins removed, the gutters straightened 

 out, and the pits filled up, it will be necessary only to 

 employ enough men to maintain this happy state of affairs. 

 As estimated in paragraph 12, a dozen men ought to keep 

 5,000 houses free of Culex ; but it is more difficult to make 

 an estimate regarding the number of men required to 

 exclude Anopheles. This will depend upon the rainfall, the 

 soil, and the perfection of the drainage system employed. 

 One thing may be accepted as certain : no drainage system 

 can be made which will not require the constant services 

 of a maintenance gang to keep it in repair. This main- 

 tenance gang will, in the end, become the permanent 

 Anopheles gang of the town ; and it should be directed by 

 the municipal engineer under the supervision of the health 

 officer. Finally, it is to be hoped that the whole of the 

 business will fall into the hands of the last official. I 

 should recommend, however, that if possible the permanent 

 Culex gang be still paid for by voluntary contributions 

 just to allow the public to have a say in the matter. 



