428 MOSQUITOES OF NORTH AMERICA 
concerned has been furnished by the city council with a large circular, which, in 
addition to information as to the cause and spreading of malaria, contains advice 
as to the best means of destroying the malaria mosquitoes. 
“ Certain dates have been specified between which the houses are to be searched 
and the mosquitoes destroyed. At the expiration of the time specified inspectors 
appointed by the city council will visit each house and apartment and make 
careful examinations to see that the work of exterminating the mosquitoes has 
been properly carried out. Those who fail to comply with the regulations 
promptly and thoroughly will be subject to a fine of about $7.50.” 
WORK ALONG RIVER FRONTS. 
Communities living along navigable rivers may have good anti-mosquito work 
hampered by the constant reintroduction of mosquitoes from boats landing at 
their river fronts. This point has been especially noted in the course of the 
excellent work done under the direction of Dr. Andrew Balfour at Khartoum on 
the Blue Nile. The following passage is taken from the First Report of the 
Wellcome Research Laboratories, pages 21-22: 
“ At an early period the steamers were found to be largely infected, especially 
with the larve of Stegomyia fasciata, and to a less extent by those of Culex 
fatigans. Anophelines, either as larve or imagines, have never been met with; 
but up-country, as will be noted later, the adults are frequently to be seen on 
board, and may remain as passengers for a considerable period. At first it was 
decided to use lime for the steamer bilges, but this was said, erroneously I be- 
lieve, to act upon iron and to be unsuitable. Consequently crude petroleum was 
recommended, though not so good nor so easily applied. Along with this the 
periodical emptying of the bilge and fumigation with the sulphur squibs de- 
scribed by Colonel Giles were advised, the latter to get rid of the adult insects. 
Unfortunately in the case of the steamers familiarity had evidently bred con- 
tempt, for, at first, despite the co-operation of the Director of the Steamers and 
Boats Department, little energy was displayed by the engineers in charge, and 
the preventive measures were largely ignored, and in some instances even 
ridiculed. This was the more to be regretted as there is no doubt that mos- 
quitoes can be banished from all the steamers if a little care and trouble were 
taken. Mr. Beadnell, of the Geological Survey, carried out these simple methods 
on the S. S. ‘ Nubia,’ and practically cleared her of mosquitoes, so that for the 
first time he was able to sleep below in comfort. A great improvement also 
resulted in the case of the gunboat ‘ Zafir, in which I went to Dueim and found 
to be simply swarming with adult Culices and their larve, while these measures 
absolutely prevented any mosquitoes breeding out on board the 8. S. ‘ Amka’ 
during a period of nearly two months, the greater part of which was passed in 
regions swarming with these winged pests. Latterly, I am glad to say, the 
engineers have been impressed with the necessity of doing all in their power to 
aid the brigade. This is the more necessary as it is easy for the steamers to in- 
fect the town and thus spoil much of the work done and render it futile.” 
