ROSS ON ANTI-MOSQUITO WORK 425 
done in the United States was carried on in the most intelligent way by the North 
Shore Improvement Association of Long Island, mentioned above. Here as an 
initial step work was done by the superintendent and engineer, Mr. H. C. Weeks, 
during the summer of 1901. Mr. Weeks completed the survey of the large terri- 
tory and estimated the cost of all operations. Another survey was made by two 
biologists, Prof. C. B. Davenport and Mr. F. E. Lutz, of the Cold Spring 
Harbor Laboratory, then of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, and 
now of the Carnegie Institution. These gentlemen positively identified all 
breeding-places. Still another survey was made by the late Prof. N. S. Shaler, 
of Harvard University, who advised concerning the best methods of reclaiming 
the salt marshes included in the territory, where certain species of mosquitoes 
breed. Upon the basis of these surveys and reports the Association began in 
1902 its active work of extermination. 
The following is a summary, by Sir Ronald Ross, of the aims of anti-mosquito 
work, and it is so admirable that it is quoted in full: 
“ Summary of objects :— 
“(1). We do not propose to exterminate mosquitoes in any entire continent. 
We propose only to deal with them in the town in which we live, and in tts 
suburbs. 
(2). We do not propose to get rid of every mosquito even in this town. 
We aim only at reducing the number of the insects as much as possible. 
“(3). We do not think it possible to drain or otherwise treat every breeding 
place in the town. 
We aim at dealing with as many as possible. 
“(4). We cannot exclude mosquitoes which may just possibly be blown into 
the town from miles away. 
We content ourselves with preventing the insects breeding in the town itself. 
“Summary of methods :— 
“(1). We start work at once with whatever means we can scrape together. 
“(2). We operate from a centre outwards. 
“(3). We clear houses, backyards, and gardens of all rubbish ; empty tubs and 
cisterns containing larve, or destroy the larve in them by means of oil. 
(4). We show people how to do these things for themselves, and how to pro- 
tect tubs and cisterns by means of wire gauze. 
(5). When we have cleared as many houses as we determine to deal with, we 
clear them over again and again. 
“(6). We fill up or drain away all the pools, ditches, old wells, and puddles we 
can—especially those which contain most larve. 
«“(7). Such pools as cannot be filled up or drained are deepened and cleared 
of weeds, if they contain larve. ; 
“(8). Streams and water courses which possess larvee are trained? 
(9), Where we can do nothing else we destroy the larvae periodically with oil, 
or by brushing them out with brooms, or by other means. 
“(10). We endeavour to interest our neighbours in the work, and to educate 
the town into maintaining a special gang of men for the purpose of keeping the 
streets and gardens absolutely free of stagnant, mosquito-bearing water. 
“ Motto.—Our motto should be one which I think will shortly become the 
first law of tropical sanitation, namely—No Stagnant Water.” 
After concluding an account of his own personal work at Lloyds Neck, Long 
Island, and of the work done by the North Shore Improvement Association, Mr. 
