Handbook of Medical EntomologyRiley, William A. (William Albert)
Science
Handbook of Medical Entomology
Riley, William A. (William Albert)
Insect pests; Insects as carriers of disease; Medical parasitology
The irritation of the bite may be relieved to some extent by using
ammonia water, a one per cent. alcoholic solution of menthol, or
preparations of cresol, or carbolic acid. Dr. Howard recommends rubbing
the bite gently with a piece of moist toilet soap. Castellani and
Chalmers recommend cleansing inflamed bites with one in forty carbolic
lotion, followed by dressing with boracic ointment. Of course,
scratching should be avoided as much as possible.
Repellents of various kinds are used, for warding off the attacks of the
insects. We have often used a mixture of equal parts of oil of
pennyroyal and kerosene, applied to the hands and face. Oil of
citronella is much used and is less objectionable to some persons. A
recommended formula is, oil of citronella one ounce, spirits of camphor
one ounce, oil of cedar one-half ounce. A last resort would seem to be
the following mixture recommended by Howard, Dyar, and Knab for use by
hunters and fishermen in badly infested regions, against mosquitoes and
blackflies.
Take 2¼ lbs. of mutton tallow and strain it. While still hot add ½
lb. black tar (Canadian tar). Stir thoroughly and pour into the
receptacle in which it is to be contained. When nearly cool stir in
three ounces of oil of citronella and 1¼ oz. of pennyroyal.
At night the surest protection is a good bed net. There are many types
of these in use, but in order to be serviceable and at the same time
comfortable it should be roomy and hung in such a way as to be stretched
tightly in every direction. We prefer one suspended from a broad, square
frame, supported by a right-angled standard which is fastened to the
head of the bed. It must be absolutely free from rents or holes and
tucked in securely under the mattress or it will serve merely as a
convenient cage to retain mosquitoes which gain an entrance. While such
nets are a convenience in any mosquito ridden community, they are
essential in regions where disease-carrying species abound. Screening of
doors, windows and porches, against the pests is so commonly practiced
in this country that its importance and convenience need hardly be
urged.
Destruction of mosquitoes and prevention of breeding are of fundamental
importance. Such measures demand first, as we have seen, the correct
determination of the species which is to be dealt with, and a knowledge
of its life-history and habits. If it prove to be one of the migratory
forms, it is beyond mere local effort and becomes a problem demanding
careful organization and state control. An excellent illustration of the
importance and effectiveness of work along these lines is afforded by
that in New Jersey, begun by the late Dr. John B. Smith and being pushed
with vigor by his successor, Dr. Headlee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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