18 PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL WORK AGAINST MOSQUITOES. 



Frequently the bell net has too small a ring at the top and the netting is not sewn 

 on to the calico which closes the ring, but is gathered up above it by a running thread; 

 such an arrangement causes folds to be formed in the net above the ring, and through 

 the grooves of these folds mosquitoes enter freely. Again, the net is often allowed to 

 hang loose on the bed or it is drawn over the whole bedstead on to the ground. When 

 hanging loose it affords very little protection, for it will, during the night, certainly 

 come in contact with the face, arms, etc., which will be bitten through the net. If 

 placed right over the bedstead, then its lower margin must be heavily weighted with 

 a long and continuous sand bag, and every care must be taken to drive away mos- 

 quitoes which may be sleeping on the dark underside of the mattress; in outlying 

 districts white ants would, in one night, make short work of net and sand bag if lying 

 on a mud floor. How, then, should a net be made and arranged? 



Proceed as follows: Obtain a ring of wood or iron, in diameter two and a half to three 

 feet; close it with a piece of stout calico; on this calico, around the circumference 

 of the ring, sew the mosquito net very carefully, using netting of the mesh shown as 

 No. 1. Suspend the net to the ceiling in the usual way. Next arrange the bedding 

 as is done on board ship; that is to say, take the upper sheet, blanket, and counterpane 

 and fold the margins inwards at the sides and at the foot; all of the bedding which will 

 cover the sleeper will then lie on the top of the under sheet. Now tuck the mosquito 

 net under the mattress all around, drawing it tight. On going to bed draw out the net 

 at one side, creep in under it, and carefully tuck it back under the mattress. The 

 sleeper is now in a cage; it does not matter how much he kicks about the net will 

 remain true, and, provided that a fair-sized bed is used, there is not much risk of an 

 unclothed part of the body touching the net. For use on the veldt many kinds of 

 stretchers, etc., have been devised. The writer has used a folding stretcher which 

 carries four thin upright rods. Through eyes in the upper ends of these rods runs a 

 cord, and over the whole structure is placed a box-shaped net. The net sold with 

 the stretcher has its lower margin weighted; it is intended that this lower margin 

 should lie on the ground. But this is a theoretical arrangement. First, one rarely 

 gets a flat piece of ground free of grass and stones whereon to place the stretcher; 

 secondly, a sudden gust of wind causes the hanging net to "ride-up" on the feet of 

 the stretchers; and lastly, a stone or grass lifts up the lower margin of the net. 



The net, etc., should be arranged as follows: Take a large, long blanket, 7 feet by 5 

 feet, fold it lengthwise, and lay it on the stretcher to serve as a mattress. Arrange 

 the blankets which will cover you just as the top bedding is arranged for an indoor 

 bed. Tuck in the net carefully all around under the blanket mattress, taking special 

 care to cross the folds of the net around the upright rods. Crawl in under the net and 

 close it in the usual way. The stretcher used by the writer, when opened for use, 

 measures 6^ by 2^ feet, and stands 15 inches above the ground. The whole outfit 

 (stretcher, rods, and net) weighs 26 pounds and can be packed into a canvas sack 

 measuring 3 feet by 13 inches. 



SCREENING BREEDING PLACES. 



What we have said in regard to the size and mesh to be used in 

 window screens and canopies appHes equally well to screens over 

 possible 'breeding places to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes or 

 the issuing of mosquitoes which have bred therein. In cities in the 

 Gulf States, where the rain-water supply is conserved in large tanks, 

 screening is necessary and is now enforced, Galveston and New 

 Orleans perhaps being the first to make this an important health 

 measure. But rain-water barrels everywhere must also be screened 



