188 MOSQUITOES 



Chief Surgeon's Office, 

 Headquarters Department of Western Cuba, 

 QuE.MADos, Cuba, October 13, 1900. 



To the Adjutant- General of the De2)artment. 



Sir : I have the honor to invite your attention to the follow- 

 ing facts and their bearing on the health of the connnand : 



The role of the mosquito in the transmission of certain diseases 

 is now Avell established. The evidence is now perfect and con- 

 clusive that malaria, as well as filarial infections, are carried by 

 this insect, and there are reasons to suspect that it may be con- 

 nected with the transmission of yellow fever, also. 



Every consideration of jDrudence, as well as comfort, demands, 

 therefore, the protection from them of the commands at all posts. 

 It is believed that this can be done with a very slight expendi- 

 ture of time and trouble, by the enforcement by post commanders 

 of two precautions, namely : 



1. The enforcement of the use of mosquito-bars in all barracks 

 and especially in all hospitals. 



2. The destruction of the larvse of young mosquitoes, com- 

 monly known as " wiggletails " or "wigglers, " by the use of 

 petroleum on the water where they breed. 



The mosquito does not fly far, and seeks shelter Avhen the wind 

 blows ; so it is usually the case that every community breeds its 

 own supply of mosquitoes, in water-barrels, fire-buckets, or un- 

 drained puddles, post-holes, etc. An application of one ounce of 

 kerosene to each fifteen square feet of water once a month will 

 destroy not only all the young, but the adults who come to lay 

 their eggs. The Avater in any cistern or tank is not afl'ected in 

 the least for drinking or washing purposes, if only it is drawn 

 from below and not dipped out. For pools or puddles of a some- 

 what permanent character, draining or fiUing-up is the best 

 remedy. It is recommended that the medical officer who makes 



