Two 'Simpsonette' anti-mosquito hoods, United Kingdom, 1901-1930

2 Simpsonette anti-mosquito hoods gauze mesh and metal ribs, in canvas bags, early 20th century, British

This hood was worn to protect the wearer from the bites of mosquitoes and flies that carried diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and sleeping sickness. The hood is placed on the head and tied under the chin; its novel feature is that it could be worn over hats and helmets. The longer loops are passed through the arms, under or over clothes, and are tied around the front so that the whole of the upper body is protected.

Diseases such as malaria were widespread in Africa but British and European doctors had little or no experience of treating them and did not understand how the diseases were spread until tropical medicine began providing answers in the late 1880s and 1890s.