The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-03-23

Natures Scavengers. 5.m~
Nothing is regarded with more loath.
ing in dwelling than the living vernIin
which penetrates pantries and closets,
and scatter themselves over kitchens,
dining rooms, and into recesses. Yet
the ants, csckroaches and flies which
move SO much disgust and produce so
much discomfort, are tho agents which
nature employs to get rid Of animal and
vegetable refuse, aud feculent matter,
which would otherwise taint the atmos-
phcre, aud render large cities unwhole.
some. As bees about flowers are the ev.
idences Of sweetness, 80 vermin in a city
are indications of the presence of matter
which would be injurious to the common
health, but for tho rspdity with which
these little workers, looked upon with
aversion, rid it of unwholesome and pu.
trefyinS substances. The aot, with a
diligauce that would put the most indus.
tr'ous workers to shame. will pick up
particle OF animal food twice its own size,
or dead insect vastly disproportioned
to its bulk, and will carry it off to bury
in the common labratory which trans.
mutes putrefaction iuto elemental purity
Three flesh flies, Liunaus says, will eat
the carcass Of horse sooner than hun
cry lion could DO it. The::common horse
fly is more delicate in its tastes, but a.
grub, or in it's larva state, it has a vora
cious appetite for decaying flesh, and will
tyohhla II ui,lo~ th.r ~
ss' d. ouF " assxea' q ws Hnao
some cockroach belongs, are the mos,
ravenous thing 10 soture, and carry off
fostering substances quicker than the
carrion crow. All these insects purify
the atmosphere the same as fishes aud
frogs do the water, making it fft for the
use Of humanity.
Though, as naturalists, VIC may find
profit and delight 10 studying the habits
Of insects, and see compensatory dis
pcnsa.ion in the workings Of nature,
which converts a common and wide spread
nuisance into sanitary beneGt, as do.
nestle economists, We doubt whether any
feeling of respect for the purposes O;
creation can reconcile the most enthusi
astic lover of nature to the thought of
colonizing such insects in his cubboards,
or allowing the limited accommodations
of habitation to be devoted to their en-
tertainmcnt We know that We arc now
occupying delicate ground, and that We
shall have some of our moro fastidions
housewives down 10 judgment upon our
temerity for touching subject which
seems solely within the province of their
direction and superintendence But the
contemplation Of the subject inspires our
boldness, and We must drop the sugges-
tive hint which comes at this time into
mind; it is for the domestic comfort ot
housewives, though it may temporarily
sour their tempers besides, We like
whenever opportunity occurs, to give I
practical application to our thoughts. -
The geographical distribution Of insec
scavengers is said to be in exact accord
ance with the need for their services. -
In temperate climates, where decompo
sltlon IS slow, their pumber is large. Il
hot aud arid climates, where animal sub
stances dry before putrefactiop, there ar.
none. Apply this principle to our ha bi
tatons aud We will SEQ that the abund
auce of vermin in dwellings comes from
some cause within our own control Til.
uses they subserve can BY 10 possibilit,
be separated from the idea of the cause.
which produce them, and however, lyul
gar the prejudice may be, an instin c,
of purity revolts at their presence. W.
have imagined, indeed, that the degret
Of this purity can be measured BY I'll,
disgust the objects themselves produce
and hence that We may have a tolerabl,
accurate insight into tho sweetness asi
economy presiding over kitchen admin
istrstion BY its total exclusion Of ali op
portunities for pursuing entomoloeica
studies. The Russians, who are not re
markable for household cleanliness, are
50 overrun with cockroachcs that, it i.
said. they burn their dwellings When IN,
annoyance is no longer tolerable. With
out advocating Russian practice; awher
insurance is 80 uncertsin, ne think there
is great virtue IN sosp and hot wstei
frequently aud thoroughly administered
and that it il untidiness and waste -th,
scatterings Of loose handed extrava acsnct
-neglcct aud cleanliness. when lef. Il
their own authority and dominion, which
create snd psrpssuats common nuisance