55 
individuals kept their tanks free by putting in a little wheel, which is 
turned by the windmill, and keeps the water almost constantly 
agitated.” 
Later use of kerosene.—Since the publication of the recommendations 
just quoted, a great deal of experimental work has been carried on in 
different parts of the country, both on a small scale and on large 
scales. An unfortunate editorial note published in the American 
Naturalist in 1895 states that the writer discovered the kerosene treat- 
ment against mosquito larve, whereas in his first article on the sub- 
ject (Insect Life, Vol. V, pp. 12 to 14) he began with the words: ‘‘One 
of the most reasonable of the recommendations which have been made 
from time to time * * * is the application of kerosene to restricted 
and fishless breeding ponds.” ‘The note in the Naturalist was the text, 
however, for a sarcastic note in the Revue Scientifique, 1895, Volume 
IV, page 729, by a writer named Delbeeuf, aimed not only against the 
writer, but against Americans in general. He stated that he had used 
kerosene as a remedy for fully fifty years, and that its use is referred 
to in the Journal Pittoresque for 1847, page 80, where it is spoken of 
as something already well known. Since the writer made no claims 
to any originality, but simply announced exact experimentation upon 
a somewhat large scale, the matter may rest very comfortably where 
itis. But it is interesting to note here that as long ago as 1812, ina 
work published in London under the title ‘‘Omniana or Hore Otio- 
siores,”’ a collection of odds and ends of all kinds, the following sugges- 
tion is made: 
The mosquito, which is of all the race of flies the most noxious, breeds in the 
water. Might it not be possible at the seasons when they emerge and when they 
deposit their eggs upon tle surface to diminish their numbers by pouring oil upon 
ereat standing water and large rivers in those places which are most infested by 
them? 
The writer is indebted to Mr. D. C. Clark, of Baltimore, for this 
interesting reference. 
During the past few years kerosene has been rather extensively used 
at many places in an effort to limit the mosquito supply. As already 
pointed out, there are many places where the source of mosquito sup- 
ply is definitely limited and easy of treatment, and in such cases on 
account of the cheapness of kerosene it will be the best means of erad- 
ication. In other places where communities are surrounded with 
swamp land or in the case of extensive sea marshes kerosene can be 
practically used in connection with other and more elaborate measures, 
comprehending, as a rule, dyking and draining. Ata relatively slight 
expense, however, a country club on Staten Island has during one sea- 
son practically stopped the breeding of Culex pungens in ponds and 
marshes in the vicinity by the use of kerosene alone. This substance 
has also been used with good effect by the Town Improvement Society 
