NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

Southland Times, Issue 21657, 19 March 1932, Page 2

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

HIGH SCHOOL CLUB. LECTURE ON MALARIA. Since its inception the Natural Philosophy Club which was recently formed at the Southland Boys’ High School has progressed rapidly, and last evening another of its interesting lectures was delivered in the Assembly Hall at the school. The subject was “Mosquitoes and Malaria’’ and the lecturer, the city engineer, Mr F. Malcolm Corkill, who illustrated his remarks with slides and pictures. A large attendance was present, a member of the committee presiding. At the conclusion of his address the lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks. “Many otherwise desirable countries are very greatly hindered in their development by the unhealthy conditions that obtain in them, and two of the most prominent diseases that have prevented progress in tropical countries particularly are malaria and yellow fever,” said Mr Corkhill. “Both these are carried by the mosquito.” The result of the mosquito in India and Malay at present, in Greece and Italy in past and present and in America was described by the lecturer, who referred to the immense toll of life and health that is levied by this small pest. Tlie romantic history of the discovery of the malarial parasite and the tracing of its life history was detailed and a full account, illustrated by pictures and specimens, was given of the development of the mosquito from egg to adult. An account was then given of the methods used in preventing the spread of malaria by the eradication of its carrier, the mosquito, and pictures of actual work carried out were shown. The fact that the greatest part in the discovery of the cause of malaria had been carried out by British doctors and that the largest work done in the way of prevention had been that carried out by British sanitarians (doctors and engineers) was stressed, though popular fancy usually ascribed all credit to the Americans on account of their spectacular work in Panama.