a handbook of the mosquitoes of north america - Systematic Catalog ...

52 MOSQUITOES OF NORTH AMERICA
in another part of the world, prove a poor vector. The data
on all these phases of malaria are far from complete. This
is due largely to the fact that no other animal than man is
known to be susceptible to the disease. Man cannot be used
as a laboratory experimental animal.
In North America, the known vectors of malaria are Ano-
p,&Zes qu,adri?~zacz~Zutzts (a good vector), A. crz~Mns (prob-
ably a good vector in some sections), A. ~aculipennis (prin-
cipal vector in Europe and probably also in California), A.
punctipemis (not known to be a vector till 1916, undoubtedly
a poor vector), and A. @eudo+zctipennis (not known posi-
tively to be a vector in North America, but has recently been
shown to be the main vector in parts of Argentina).
Malaria is one of the most widespread and important human
diseases in the world. The principal endemic areas and the
malaria mo,rtality for the United States are shown in figure 17.
There is probably no endemic malaria in Canada. Although
the administration of quinine in various forms may reduce the
fever, there is, no known drug which will completely eliminate
the parasite from its human host. The most practical and
most efficient method of reducing malaria is to prevent or
control the breeding of anopheline mosquitoes. Control meth-
ods are outlined in the following chapter.
Blackwater Fezler
Blackwater fever is a severe fever accompanied by great
blood destruction, and the passage of haemoglobin in the urine
(the urine is a mahogany color, hence the name of the dis-
ease). Until very recently the disease was thought to be
caused by some unknown specific parasite. It is now generally
recognized that blackwater fever is due to repeated attacks
or continuous infection with malaria. The disease is widely
distributed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions
of the world and is most prevalent in the intensely malarious
sections. In the Americas it occurs in the northern area of
South America, Central Americas, West Indies, and parts of