PROPHYLAXIS OF MALARIA. 
55 
METHODS OF COLLECTING AND DISSECTING MOSQUITOES. 
The following directions for the collection and dissection of ano- 
phelines are all that are necessary for one engaged in practical 
prophylactic work. No attempt is made to describe methods of 
breeding the insects or of experimentation, as these phases of the 
subject relate more distinctly to the laboratory than to work in 
(he field. 
Collection ^—The ova of the Anophelince may be collected from the 
breeding places with a white agate ware dipper, but it should be 
remembered that they are very inconspicuous and have to be searched 
for very carefully. 
The larva?, may be collected in a dipper from the breeding places 
by slightly muddying the water of puddles or shallow streams when 
thev are more easily observed bv reason of their grayish color. In 
small receptacles, water barrels, etc., they can easily be collected with 
the dipper. The adult insects are easily captured by the use of a 
collecting tube. At night they may be attracted by placing a lamp 
in such a position that a portion of the wall is but slightly lighted, 
when it will be found that the mosquitoes gather at the junction of 
lhe shaded area and can be easily captured. For this purpose a large 
test tube or a small straight glass cylinder may be used, the open 
end being placed over the mosquito as it rests upon the wall, then 
slightly moved across the surface of the wall, when the insect will 
fly to the closed end, whereupon the open end is removed quickly 
from the wall and plugged with cotton. If it is desired to kill the 
insects a small amount of cotton saturated with chloroform is placed 
at the bottom of the tube and covered with a disk of perforated card¬ 
board. after which the tube is used as described. The utmost care 
should be used to avoid breaking the wings or otherwise injuring 
the insects if they are to be sent away for identification. 
As the identification of the species of mosquitoes in any region 
may be a matter of great military importance, every effort should 
be made by medical officers to have the species identified in the 
localities in which they are serving. For this purpose the chloro¬ 
form killing tube should be used to capture the mosquitoes, after 
which they are carefully slid from the tube into a small box con¬ 
taining absorbent cotton. Great care should be taken to avoid touch- 
ing the insects or allowing the chloroform in the killing tube to come 
in contact with them. Not more than three or four mosquitoes 
should be placed in a box, and a label should be pasted upon the 
cover giving the place, date, and hour of collection, and any other 
data that is thought useful. If the box is to be mailed it should be 
inclosed in a larger box and packed carefully in cotton. 
