The Ralston Independent (Ralston, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, May 1, 1914 Page: 5 of 8
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RALSTON, O K L A.. I NDEPENDENT
MALARIA MOSQUITO ADDS TO
DAMAGE O^COTTON DOLL WEEVIL
Anopheles Causing Great Loss in Labor and Crop Production
Throughout the South-Results Show in Preliminary Study
of a Malaria Infected Plantation.
Tbe malaria mosquito lfl not only
causing tremendous annual losses In
farm labor and production In the
South, but la Indirectly Increasing
the destructlveness of the cot-
ton boll weevil, according to state-
mentB of specialists of the United
Statea department of agriculture.
These statements follow a study of a
mosquito-infected plantation in Louis-
lana made during the last cotton and
corn crop season by specialists of the
bureau of entomology as a preliminary
to a more extended Investigation of the
effect of malaria on farm production
and profits.
On this single farm the specialists
found that the malaria mosquito bo
affected the workers that the equiva-
lent of 7.39 weeks of work by adult
labor were lost per family during the
seasons when crops were under culti-
vation. This does not include the
lessened efficiency of convalescents or
the lack of interest and energy result
lng from malarial illnesB.
The Louisiana farm selected for the
experiment contains 3,540 acres, of
which 1,800 acres was under cultiva-
tion and 1,740 acres waB in swamp
land timber. The natural conditions
on the plantation, it 1b believed, pre-
vail on nearly 200.000 square miles
of farming land In the South. Of the
tilled acreage about 1,600 acres were
cultivated by tenant farmers who took
three-fourths of their yield If they sup-
plied mules, seed, Implements, and
feed, or one-half of their yield If the
plantation owner supplied these items.
The balance of the cultivated acreage
was worked with day labor at one dol-
lar per day.
The plantation physician stated at
the beginning of the survey that fully
76 per cent of the families on the
plantation were afflicted with malaria
and at least two members of every af-
flicted family had the disease In a se-
rious form at some time during the
crop season. Nine out of every ten
patients in his practise he Baid were
malaria subjects. A study of the rec-
ords of the plantation show that 46
out of 64 families were treated for
malaria by the doctor during the past
season. This number Is probably too
low, the department's specialists be-
lieve, because many families try to
avoid the cost of medical attendance,
and the negro has a natural aversion
to proper medical treatment.
Effect of Malaria in 12 Families.
The department's investigator made
a detailed study of 12 families with
the following results:
Total time
lost on
No. sick account of
In family. Malaria.
Number *
In Location
family, of house.
Near woods
Near woods and along
Near woods
Along Bayou .
Open field ....
Along Bayou
Open field
W'eeka
8
11
7
20H
3
6%
8
6
6
7%
1
2
1
B
1
2
6
16
1
2
, 2
8
3
8
42
88*
The number of cases In these fam
llics which reported sickness would ]
Indicate that there were 149 persons j the plantation. TbU manager 1b posi
who suffered seriously from the dis- | tlve that 50 families, or possibly even
ease in the total of 64 families. In
these cases the loss of time Involved
represents only the severe cases. The
number who have the disease In an
Inactive state or some other form is
undoubtedly far In excess of these fig-
ures.
Loss of Time Through Malaria.
Presuming that the loss of 88.75
weeks for 12 families holds for the 46
Infected families, the total loss
of time would be 340 weeks for the 46
malarial families. The loss of time Is
based on the work of an adult. Mem-
bers of the family between twelve and
sixteen years of age are figured at
one-half time, and those between eight
and twelve at one-fourth. ThiB loss
of time figured at the rate of wages of
one dollar per day would amount to
$2,380. This does not include the
actual loss for medical fees and medi-
cine. As these people are tenant farm-
ers, however, it is to be presumed that
their labor Is worth more to them-
selves and the plantation than that
of the usual day laborer. Ab this loss
of labor was distributed throughout
the season, the actual loss to the
plantation and to the tenant farmer
would have to be figured on the effect
on the crop of this loss of time spread
over the crop season. The investiga-
tors were unable to do this during
the past season. But In consequent
investigations the actual per acre pro-
duction of the malarial and nonmalar
rial farms will be contrasted so as to
determine the actual effect of ma-
laria on the crop. Inasmuch aB ma-
laria affects these people most seri-
ously during the critical times of
corn and cotton cultivation, it is prob-
able that it directly lessens the pro-
duction.
The loss of time figured Is for act-
ual incapacity on account of sickness,
and does not include the loss of time
by healthy members of the family In
nursing the members who were ill.
In one case observed by the Investiga-
tor, the wife was suffering from a se-
rious attack of malaria and the hus-
band remained at home to take care
of her. There were five children in
this family who usually work with
their parents in the field. These were
all congregated in idleness about the
houBe In Bpite of the fact that the
work of picking cotton waB in prog-
ress and the weather was moBt fa-
vorable. As a result, thp entire time
of this family of seven was lost
through the illness of one member.
The loss of time figured is merely
the time of actual incapacity and does
not take into consideration the di-
minished strength, energy and inter-
est of the patient when he is trying'
to work in the fields during his con-
valescence.
Effect of Malaria on Efficiency.
The manager of the property statea
that an estimate, based on actual loss
of time, which would place the loss
to the plantation owners from reduced
production at $3,835, and to the ten-
ants at $1,115, would be very low. This
would mean that if the loss were pre-
vented there would be an Increased in-
come of $24 per family for each of the
46 malarial tenant families together
with the above increase in returns to
as few as 40 families, without ma
larla could have produced as much as
the 64 families under the malarial
conditions that prevailed
The manager of another plantation,
which raises rice, states that the la-
bor problem, because of malaria. l>
acute at the time of planting and dur-
ing the harvest season He says that
"chills" are particularly serious dur-
ing the harvest season, and that the
labor force then becomes greatly re
duced. In 1912 he bad to go outside
his district for hands and recruited
35 men. These men were all in healthy
condition and worked well for two
weeks. At the end of this time they
began to have "chills," and before the
end of the harvest 20 out of 36 were
incapacitated for work. All these men
returned to their homeB. In 1913 the
same man sought to recruit men from
the same place to harvest the rice
crop, but they refused to come. They
stated that their physician advised
them not to go to the rice fields. This
physician Informed the manager that
these men who worked for him during
the previous season returned to their
homes unfit for work iu the cane dur-
ing the grinding season, and that he
advised them not to go north to the
rice fields. Another manager of a
cane plantation also stated that men
who had worked in the rice fields
were unfit on their return home, be-
cause of malaria, to work In the cane
fields.
Malaria and Boll Weevil Injury.
An important observation made In
thlB region by the investigator during
the past season is that portions of the
Iobb through injury by the boll weevil
must be debited to malaria. Under
normal conditions, the Iobb of time 1b
not always bo serious a matter, after
the cotton crop 1b laid by and before
time of picking Under boll weevil
condition*, however, both loss of time
Outside of work hours, on holidays,
or at night, the negro farmer is apt
to be at a lodge meeting, at the store,
at church, in a saloon, or in the cabin
of Bome friend—in fact any place ex-
cept his own home. This habit of
congregating at night outside of their
own cabins would practically ofTset
any protection to them through screen-
ing of their dwellings. The tendency
Young or "Wlggletall" Mosquitoes,
Showing Positions at Surface of Wa-
ter of Malaria Wiggletall, Above,
and Non-Malaria Wlggletall, Below.
Enlarged Drawings 8how the Differ-
ence in the Length of the Breathing
Tubes.
of the negro to move about from place
to place and his aversion to proper
medical treatment, especially a pro-
longed course of quinine, renders the
succeBBful treatment of the disease
with quinine Impracticable. Reduc-
tion of malaria, the report concludes,
depends upon the control of the mo
The Malaria MoaquKo, Made at Right and Female at Left Note Spotted
Wlnge and, In the Female, the Long Projection, on Either Side ot
It*
S,
Typical Scene In the Swamp Region of the Miasisslppl Valley. If Drained
This Land Would Be Worth |300 an Acre. Under Present Conditions
It Produces Malaria Mosquitoes.
the Beak
fetid decreased efficiency become more
serious throughout the entire season.
Failure to keep up with the crop,
that la, to plant at the right time, to
give the crop good cultivation, and to
carry out control measures for weevil,
gives the weevil an advantage over
the plant. Many of the tenants are
incapacitated by malaria at these crit-
ical times In the culture of the crop.
The owner of one plantation said that
the loss sustained through malaria
far exceeds that of the boll weevil,
in the case of the boll weevil, only
one crop suffers; while in the case of
malaria not only all crops but all ag-
ricultural development, as well, suf-
fer.
Suggested Remedy for the Loss.
The investigators found that the
mosquito which was the cause of ma-
laria on the plantation Btudled was the
Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, one
of the species of Anopheles known to
carry malaria. The Anopheles can be
distinguished from other mosquitoes
In the following way: The wings of
this malaria-carrying mosquito are
more or less spotted. The projection
on either side of its beak are nearly
as long as the beak itself. The easiest
way to distinguish this moequlto is
by observing Its resting position. The
Anopheles when biting has Its beak
and head and body in the same line
at an angle from the skin. The non-
malarial mosquito, or Culex, keeps Its
body and wlngB parallel with the rest-
ing place and Its beak 1b at an angle
with its body, like the letter "L" laid
on its side.
On the plantation In question, the
malarial mosquito was found in the
house and frequently In the mosqulto-
bars over the beds in the negro cab-
ins. As a result of this study the in-
vestigators do not believe that the
screening of negro cabins would be
effective, because tbe negroes are care-
less about keeping mosquitoes out of
their houses and the presence of a
malaria-carrying inoBquito screened In
with a malaria subject would practi-
cally Insure the Infection of the en-
tire family Negroes are usually care-
less about going out after nightfall
qulto-carriera of the disease. In the
ultimate control, drainage will prob-
ably play the greater part.
Opinions of Scientists.
The opinion of the two managers
quoted are in line with the following
references:
Prof. Glenn W. Herrick of Cornell,
formerly state entomologist of Missis-
sippi, in 1903, wrote:
"The South as a whole has given
little thought to the tremendous role
malaria plays In her industries, espe-
cially in agriculture. We have no idea
of the loss occasioned by malaria in
unfitting men for long or energetic
hours of labor. The loss of energy and
enthusiasm, the Iobb of interest in
one's own efforts and success, all of
which contribute enormously to the in-
efficiency of labor and cause the
wealth-producing power, especially in
agriculture, to fall far Bhort of Its nor-
mal capacity, is due in a marvelous
and undreamed-of degree to that life-
sapping disease, malaria. The man
that 1b Just able to 'crawl out of bed
and drag around' is certainly not the
man to accomplish an efficient and full
day'B labor. Because a man Is at
work is not necessarily a proof that he
Is actually adding to thtf sum total of
his own wealth or to that of the state,
and in a lesser degree does it prove
that he 1b adding to the sum total ot
wealth, all of which he Is capable. A
man's general state of health haa quite
as much relation to his producing pow-
ers as the amount and kind of food he
eats And certainly there is no dis-
ease known to man that more insidi-
ously undermines his constitution and
lessens his ability to produce bis full
measure of wealth than malaria."
Dr. W. E Hinds, state entomologist
of Alabama (1912), estimates that 2,-
000,000 persons in the South are in-
capacitated because of malaria.
Prof. R. W Hamed, state entomolo-
gist of Mississippi says:
"In my opinion the malaria-transmit
ting mosquitoes are by far the worst
pests in this state. I think that
their damage l rrrater than that of
the boll weevil and most of the othfr
I crop pests combined."
INTBMTIONAL
SMfSOIOOL
Lesson
(By E O. SELLERS, Director of Evening
iHp&rtm. nt, The Moody Bible Institute,
Chicago.)
LESSON FOR MAY 3
THE PRODIGAL SON.
I.ESSON TEXT-Luko 1R:11 32.
OSOLPEN TEXT -"I will arise and go
to my father, and will say unto him,
Father. 1 have sinned against heaven, and
in thy sight." Luke 16:18.
The parables of Jesua are marvela
of unity and condensation, yet no nec-
essary detail is omitted. ThlB, per-
haps his most famouB. 1b no excep-
tion even though it does carry a dou-
ble lesson. Who thinks of the older
brother when this story 1b mentioned?
Though designated the "Story of the
Prodigal," we need to remind our-
selves that the word "prodigal" never
ance occurs In the Btory. The open-
ing sentence speaks of a father and
of two sons. It is really the parable
of a perfect father, the unveiling of
the true heart of God. Against that
background 1b Bet off a self-centered
son lacking in natural afTectlon. AIbo
alongside the wayward son 1b the mis-
erly, selfish one who lacked all the
good qualities of his brother, but who
was truly a wanderer and out of har-
mony with God the Father In the
background we Bee the citizens of
the far country who helped this young
Jew to his place of want, famine and
degradation Remember, It Is our
lx>rd speaking to Jews. When the
Gentiles of the far country sent him
to feed Bwlne they Insulted him by
compelling him to get his living
through an occupation instinctively
repulsive.
First Fruit of Sin.
The father makes equal" partition
divided unto tbem." (V. 12) though
neither son had a rlgV to demand a
partition of his estate. At the bot-
tom of the son's request was a desire
to have his own way—to be independ-
ent of God. He did not go away from
home at once, though his heart was
already In the "far country."
I. Into the Far Country, vv. 13-1®.
Fun 1b the first fruit of sin, and that
the son readily found so long as his
money lasted (Heb. 11:15). But the
consequences followed closely on its
trail for when he had "spent all' he
began to be in "want." There are
many attractive things about this
young man, but those qualities were
perverted, they lacked control, they
were good Bervants but bad task-
masters. It Is not always physical,
temporal want that comes to the sin-
ner, there are deeper and more In-
tense longings—soul want and soul
hunger. These always come to the
soul away from God. Being in want
does not mean that a man's will has
been subdued. Some prodigals In the
most abject temporal need are as
proud as Lucifer, and boast of their
rebellion. So he "Joined himself to a
citizen of the country." He did not
belong there—the citizen did. He was
set to the most degrading task Im-
aginable for a Jew—feeding swine.
Like a Lost Sheep.
II. The Home Coming, vv. 17-24.
The flrBt step was for the son to stop
and really think. That la where sal-
vation always begins—in thinking. He
knew he was lost, e. g., out of adjust-
ment, in the wrong place, out of his
element and like the lost sheep,
"ready to die." He saw his condi-
tion, money gone, friends gone, hogs
for companions, no food for his sus-
tenance. He saw hia value. He was
more Important than the servants of
his father's home. He saw his fath-
er's love, already manifested in what
had been given him and we fain would
believe that when he left home he
had the father's urgent plea to re-
turn. He saw a way to escape from
his present position. All of this after
he "came to himself." Before that,
impenitent, he waB morally inBane,
now he has reasoned, Isa. 1:18. With
his reasoning also came the deter-
mination to make a full confession.
. will say unto him," not alone con-
fess his need but the fact that he had
sinned. This Is the only way for a
ainner to come to God, Ps. 32:3-5;
I John 1:9; Luke 18:11-14. He did
not stop with resolving but "he arose
and came to his father," v. 20. He ex-
pected to apply for a servant's posi-
tion, but never had the opportunity
for the father saw him "a great way
off" and "ran and fell on his neck and
kissed him." Notice the kiss of recon-
ciliation was given before he even had
a chance to confess. In his confes-
sion his first thought is that he had
sinned against God and then against
his earthly father The father had
not onco forgotten him; ho "had com-
passion" even though the Bon was un-
merciful to himself and to all of bin
loved ones. The father kissed him
before he was washed or otherwise
made Dresentable.
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Stroud, Rosella. The Ralston Independent (Ralston, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, May 1, 1914, newspaper, May 1, 1914; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc163003/m1/5/: accessed July 3, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.