The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-08-06
USE FOR FLIES.

and wondered what they were mad,
for! But naturalists, who believe thai
God makes no mistake in creating. anC
designs every creature for a good end
have by diligent search found oood
use even for flies. And so MI Elmer
son, an English naturalist, has CLEANED
some curious facts about them:
Dld you ever watch a fly that has
just alighted after soaring about the
room for some little time! He goes
through a series of operations which
reminds you of cat licking herself
alter meal, or of bird pluming its
feathers. First the hind feet are rub
bed together, then each hind leo is
passed over n wing, then the forclegs
undergo like treatment; and lastly
IL you look sharp YOU will see the in
sect carry his proboscis over his legs
and about his body as far as he can
reach. The minnie trunk is perfectly
retractile, and it terminates in two
large lobes which you can see spread
out when the insect begins 4 meal on
a lump Of sugar Now the rubbing
together Of the legs and wings NAV be
a smoothing operation; but for what
purpose is this carefully going over
the body with the trunk, especially
when this organ is not fitted for lick
ing, but simple for grasping and suck
ing up food.
Mr.. Emerson states that he began
his selt-appOinted task of finding out
whether the house fly really serves any
appreciable shemes of creation except
ing as an Indifferent scavenger. by cap
turing fine specimen and glueing his
wings down to a microscope slide.
On placing the slide under the instru.
rnent, to the investigators disgust. the
fly appeared covered with lice, causing
the offending insect to be promptly
released and another substituted in
his place. Fly No. 2 was no better
than fly No. | and rs the same might
be predicted of flies 3, 4, Cor II flies
as the algebras have it, Mr. Emerson
concluded that here was something
which at once required looking into
Why were the flies lousy Meanwhile
fly No, 2 on the slide seemed to take
his position very coolly, and extend
ing his probOscis, began to sweep it
over his body as if it had just alighted.
4 glance through the microscope,
however, showed that the operation
was not one of Standardization for
wherever the lice were TIE trunk went.
The lice were disappearing into the
trunk; the fly was eating them
lie took the paper into the kitchen
and waved it around, taking care that
no flies touched it, went back to the
microscope and there found animal
c;lles, the same as on flies lie had
now arrived at something definite ;
the animalcules were floating in the
air; and the quick motions of The
flies gathered them on their bodies.
and the flies then went into some quiet
corner to have their dainty meal.
The investigator goes on to describe
how he continued this experiment in
variety Of localities, and how, in dirty
and bad smelling quarters, he found
the myriad Of flies which existed there
literally covered with animalcules,
while other flies, captured in bedrooms
or well-yentelated, clean apartments.
were miserablp lean and entirely free
from their prey. Wherever filth exist
ed, evolving germs which might gener-
ate disease, there were the flies, cover
ing themselves with the minute organ
isms and greedily devouring the same.
A CURE FOR CoNsUMPTION-Ac cor
respondent writes as follows about the
power of a well-known plant
II have discovered a remedy for
pulmonary consumption. 1t has cured
Il number of cases after they had COM
menced bleeding at the lungs and the
hectic flush was already on the cheek.
After trying this remedy to my own
satisfaction, philanthropy required
that | should let it be known to the
world. 1t is the common MULLEN.
stepped strong sweetened with coffee
sugar, and drank freely. These herbs
should be gathered before the end of
July, if convenient. Young or old
plants are good dried in the shade. and
kept in clean paper bags. The medi-
cine must he continued from four to
six months, according to the nature of
the disease. It is good for the blood
vessels also. 1t strengthens the svs-
TEN and builds up instead of taking
away strength. 1t makes good blood
and takes inf. m nation'from the lungs.
1t is the wish of the writer that every
periodical in the United States. Canada
and Europe should publish this recipe
for the benefit of the human family.
Lay this up and keep in the house
ready for use. ."-Netc Jersey Mechanic.
A New Horse BRAKE.-A San
Francisco inventor has applied for a
patent on a horse brake OF his own
contrivance. 1t is intended to control
a horse in much the same way as a
wagon is governed in its movements bv
q brake. A buckle with a belt is at
tached to the ring of the breeching on
the left side of the horse, and the belt
Is continued around the latter's breast.
where it is fastened to the martinGale.