54 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MOSQUITO 



little fish, like the useful " millions " of Barbados, for 

 the smaller collections of water. Whilst in Barbados 

 recently I had abundant opportunity of seeing the 

 great utility of fish in killing larvae. 



Immunity of Barbados from Malaria. — A most 

 interesting fact in connection with Barbados is the 

 immunity of the island from malaria. This is due 

 to the fact that the " anopheles " mosquito does not 

 exist in the island ^ ; indeed it was the reason why the 

 medical men of the island had at once believed JNIajor 

 Ross's theory of the relationship of malaria to the 

 " anopheles," because they well knew that malaria did 

 not exist in the island and also that the " anopheles " 

 had not been found. This fact has stimulated several 

 observers to ascertain why the " anopheles " mosquito 

 does not breed in Barbados. It led to a discussion, 

 and many interesting fsicts were brought out, — first 

 of all the complete immunity of Barbados from the 

 " anopheles," whilst the other AVest Indian islands are 

 plagued with it. JNIr. C. Kendrick Gibbons, who has 

 resided for many years in Barbados, propounded the 

 interesting theory that this might be due to the 

 presence in the swamps and ponds of Barbados of 

 a tiny fish which exists in such teeming numbers as 

 to earn the name of " millions," whose staple diet is 

 the larvae of mosquitos. 



The " million," or Girardinus ^^arZ/o/V/c,?, belongs 

 to a group of fish known as " top minnows," small 

 carnivorous fish which swim and feed near the surface 

 of the water upon insect life. They are most com- 



* According to local authorities. 



