This site provides some poems on the subject of malaria.
Ode to Mosquito Men (author unknown)
In this, O Nature, yield I pray to me (Ronald
Ross)
This day designing God (Ronald
Ross)
Back to "Malaria Project 1999"
They sprayed and sprayed till their eyes got sore
Then they refilled their machines and sprayed some more.
They worked most of the whole night through.
Killing mosquitoes for me and for you.
Their labors resulted in great success.
Of every one hundred mosquitoes, there were ninety-nine less.
But they were mocked and they were scorned,
Their heads with criticism were adorned.
What could be the problem then?
That such reward befell these men?
This answer is simple as numbers can be.
And the calculations reveal for all to see.
That if ninety-nine percent of one billion are slain.
Ten million of the devils still remain.
Source: www.fairharbor.com/FHCA_mosquito_quotes.htm
In this, O Nature, yield I pray to me.
I pace and pace, and think and think, and take
The fever'd hands, and note down all I see,
That some distant light may haply break.
The painful faces ask, can we not cure?
We answer, No, not yet; we seek the laws.
O God, revel thro' all this thing obscure
The unseen, small, but million-murdering cause.
Ronald Ross, 1895 in Aronson, 1996
This day designing God
Hath put into my hand
A wondrous thing. An God
Be praised. At his command
I have found thy secret deed.
Oh million mudering Death, I know that this little thing
A million men will save
Oh death where is thy sting? Thy victory oh grave?
(Ronald Ross, 20. August 1897 in Sherman, 1998, S. 6
Comments, suggestions or corrections, especially from Ghanaians, people from the teaching field or in malaria research to mattgig@freesurf.ch are most welcome.
Matthias Giger, August 1999 (Update: 30.01.2002)