Greytown was a town on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, which in 1854 was bombarded and destroyed by the US ship 'Cyane'.
A negro had been shot by a steamshipcaptain in May, and the mayor of Greytown ordered the captain's arrest. The passengers of the steamship resisted, among them Borland, the US Minister. The next day Borland was assaulted on the street. In July the 'Cyane' was despatched to the town. CommanderHollins sent to the mayor demanding immediate payment of the extortionate demands of a transit company, with which the town authorities had quarrelled. This was refused. Hollins opened fire and destroyed the town. Research Greytown Incident
Culex pipiens is a species of mosquito found only in the London Underground system. It is believed to have developed from mosquitoes trapped in the tunnels when the system was built in the 19th century. Research Culex pipiens
Culicadae is a group or sub-family of dipterous insects, of the family Tipulidae. The genus Culex comprehends the common gnat and the mosquito. Research Culicidae
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemongrass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.
Mosquitoes are remarkable for their quick genetic development, new species develop in around 100 years, as was discovered when mosquitoes became trapped in the London Underground system when it was built, and in 1998 were discovered to have become distinct species developing to feed first on rats and then on humans rather than their usual sheep hosts. Research Mosquito
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism - known as the host. The host derives no benefit from the parasite, and is often manipulated and harmed by the parasite. Many parasites use intermediary hosts as stages on their journey to animals further up the food chain, and in doing so will manipulate he behaviour of the host. For example, the malaria parasite utilises mosquitos in its journey to large mammals. Before it is ready to pass to the mammal, the parasite suppresses the feeding instinct of the hostmosquito, thereby reducing the chances of it being killed. However, once mature and ready to move on the parasite encourages the mosquito to feed more voraciously, inmproving the likelihood that the malaria parasite will be passed on. Some parasites cause their hosts to commit suicide by being eaten, or behave in a manner which makes them much more vulnerable to predators, so that the parasite can move up the food chain to a higher host. Research Parasite
Josiah Tattnall was an American sailor. He was born in 1795 and died in 1871. He served in a seamen's battery on Craney Island during the War of 1812. He served in Decatur's squadron during the Algerine War. He was given command of the USS Spitfire at the outbreak of the Mexican War and commanded the Mosquito division at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service and was given command of the naval defences of Georgia and South Carolina. He led an attack on Port Royal in 1861. In 1862 he commanded the Merriniac. He was active in the defense of Savannah. Research Josiah Tattnall
The Mosquitos are native Indians of the Sumo-Mosquito group of the Mosquito coast on the Atlantic side of Nicaragua, and Honduras in Central America. They are a mixed race people evolved from local aborigines, Carib Indians, Negro slaves and Europeans. They were formerly protected by Britain, which thereby claimed a footing in Central America but this caused severe problems with the USA which culminated in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 1850. Research Mosquitos
Malaria also known as paludism (ague or miasma) is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by the micro-organism Pasmodium and transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Research Malaria
Yellow fever, popularly known as black vomit on account of the presence of blood in the vomit, is an acute destructive disease usually found in tropical regions and caused by a virus transmitted by an infected mosquito. The Togaviridae virus is carried by the Aedes mosquito and the disease affects the liver. The virus has an incubation period of three to eight days. Symptoms include fever, liver damage with accompanying jaundice, and intestinal disorders. There is no cure available for yellow fever. Treatment consists of maintaining the blood volume and the intake of fluids and anticoagulant therapy. Transfusion of fluids is often necessary. In mild and moderate cases the patient recovers after a few days and few complications occur.
If contracted as a child, Yellow Fever results in a mild illness, however, among adults the mortality rate is about 5%. An attack of yellow fever confers lifelong immunity, and traditionally natives in Africa contracted the disease as children, suffered a short mild illness, recovered and were subsequently immune. However, European colonisation of Africa resulted in immunisation programmes which prevented children contracting the disease - though many died from encephalitis as a result of the immunisation - until as adults they became vulnerable, resulting in the 1965 Senegalese Yellow Fever epidemic that killed at least 140 people. Research Yellow Fever
The Contraves-Oerlikon Mosquito is a Swiss simple wire-guided infantry anti-tank weapon designed to be deployed by a single soldier. The Contraves-Oerlikon Mosquito entered production in 1961 and has a cruising speed of 330 kmh and a range of between 360 and 2375 metres. The Contraves-Oerlikon Mosquito can be armed with various warheads including a hollow-charge type capable of penetrating more than 660 mm of conventional armour plate and a fragmentation warhead. Research Contraves-Oerlikon Mosquito
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Greytown Incident
