62 SUMMARY OF THE ANTIMALARIAL CAMPAIGNS 



and America have broken themselves in vain upon its 

 deadly shores." 



We cannot obtain accurate figures to give us some 

 indication of the mortality and sickness rate amongst 

 the populations of Africa. We can, however, agree 

 with Ross that Africa is to-day what it is as compared 

 to Europe because of its malaria-bearing mosquito. 

 But we can well imagine that such figures would be 

 gigantic if for a moment we consider what malaria does 

 in India. Here we have available data, and they show 

 that there were 4,91 9, .591 deaths recorded under the 

 word Fever in 1900, the vast bulk of which was no 

 doubt of malarial origin. Taking next the military 

 population, out of a total force of 805,927 in 1900, 

 there were 102,040 cases admitted into hospital suffer- 

 ing from malaria.^ 



Figures like these give the world some idea of the 

 magnitude and importance of antimalarial mosquito 

 warfare ; they are figures only exceeded by the mortality 

 which w^as common in the 'fifties in the West Indies 

 from yellow fever, when the mortality sometimes 

 readied 69 per cent, amongst the soldiers ! Xo wonder, 

 tiien, that antimosquito work is attracting increased at- 

 tention all over the world. The method of attack is 

 simple and the victory to be gained is overwhelming, as 

 the following narrati\'e of campaigns abundantly proves." 



Historically, tlie first antimalarial work was under- 



* Ross, '' Researches on Malaria/' 1905 



* For further information about the organisation of antimosquito work 

 consult " Mosquito Brigades and How to Organise 'I'hem," by Ronald Ross 

 C.B., F.R.S., lb02. 



