CHAPTER XII 



RESULTS 



AT the end of every year a full report may be pub- 

 lished giving the results of the campaign and justify- 

 ing the expenditure incurred. If the notebooks of 

 the foremen or moustiquiers are examined, the 

 number of water collections that harbour mosquito 

 larvae may be enumerated and compared with that 

 obtained when the original estimate was made. The 

 difference can be recorded. Then the fever census 

 will give interesting results ; but caution must be 

 exercised, as already stated, in drawing conclusions. 

 Usually some years must elapse before such deduct- 

 tions are justified, although there is a marked re- 

 duction of the numbers of insects and the town is 

 obviously healthier. Every effort must be made to 

 obtain exact information. Regardless of the truth, 

 natives have a happy way of expressing opinions 

 that they think will please the questioner, and this 

 fact must be remembered. Others also will some- 

 times cover the truth with a veneer of exaggeration 

 if they think they will go up in the estimation of the 

 Health Department or municipal councillor it may 



no 



