February, ’18] 
ENTOMOLOGISTS’ DISCUSSIONS 
101 
Mr. George A. Dean: The thing that surprises me most is the 
fact that so few of the medical men, bacteriologists, and sanitary 
engineers appreciate or even recognize that the entomologists can 
assist in solving these health problems. As Professor Lefroy of London, 
who visited my department only a few weeks ago, says, it is too bad, 
indeed, that we have to have terrible calamities come before we wake 
up and take notice. He says that at the present time there is Asiatic 
cholera and typhus right in the localities where many of our soldiers 
will be sent in France, and unless we are alive to the situation and 
expert entomologists are in the field, we are going to have the same 
sad experience that the English had in the first year of their campaign. 
Professor Lefroy was at loss to understand why this country, so well 
equipped with so many capable entomologists, was not using them 
in all of the army camps and units. 
Secretary A. F. Burgess: I think we have had a very dangerous 
situation pointed out to us and that we appreciate that the situation is 
dangerous. We have also had pointed out that probably very little 
will be done until the situation becomes very serious indeed. I believe 
it is time for this Association to act. If we can do no more than go on 
record, we should do so, and point out what the situation is and that 
this Association and its members stand willing to assist in this great 
work. The difficulty of changing a system which already exists is 
very great, but unless all signs fail, the time is coming when it must be 
changed. It seems to me that the principle of the selective draft was 
to place men who were selected in positions for which they were best 
adapted. It is a pity that men who are trained along entomological 
lines and are needed should not be put on that important work. The 
time is coming when they will be, but I think the Association ought 
to consider this matter very carefully and take action at this meeting, 
pointing out the dangers that are ahead and placing its members at 
the service of the government. 
Mr. Herbert Osborn: I feel very deeply on this subject and 
hesitate to express myself fully. I feel deeply because a great many 
young men have come to me and asked for advice. I could not tell 
them what to do. I knew that they were patriotic, and it seemed to 
me that they should serve their country where it would produce the 
greatest results for the government. Under existing agencies it is 
practically impossible for a man to go into the service as an entomolo¬ 
gist. It is impossible for us to reorganize the agencies to bring about 
an order which would provide for entomologists as entomologists. I 
feel very strongly indeed that entomologists are American citizens. I 
think every one of our members in the United States wants to render 
the greatest service possible in this national emergency, and I think 
