The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19
Danger from Flies.

| hanger from Files.
In extent OF diffusion over the earth's
surface, flies take the first place among ami
mated beings. They are found everywhere
between the Arctic and the Antarctic re-
glons. Hitherto, aside from their being a
discomfort to mankind. they have been
| looked upon with at least some degree of
liberation rs being excellent scavengers
which quickly disposed OF much Of the
| refuse about our dwellings. But now we
have discovered that. under the g,iise Of
friendship and Willis enjoying our domes'
! tic hospitality with easy familiarity. the
honse-fy has been in reality deadly
enomy. SubsstinR upon the choicest deli
cacies OF our table. making himself at home
In every part OF the house. lavish in his dis
play Of affection for our immediate persons.
he has carried around In his probosris ven-
omous polsons, and has stealthily dealt
death to innunerable human friends. We
| do not now allude to certain species OF flies
that deposit their eggs in the nostrils
| during sleep. thus giving rise to most
| horrible disease OF the nose and throat
This was at one time extremely prevalent
among French convicts at Cayenne and
not long ago. in one OF our medi-
Cui Joul uuiSs a uuulDeT VI blllllldE cdSb5
were reported from Texas. Nor do we
refer to the somewhat rare instances OF
another dreadful disease. known as malg-
nant pustule. being carried from lower
animals to man by flies. although such facts
are recorded. We may pass over lightly
too. the acknowledged intermedation of the
fly In the dissemination of contagious
ophthalmia. a malady more common in
Egypt than IN civilized communities: for,
at any rate. this function OF our insect
enemy costs only an eye or two. whereas
there are other habits Of his that threaten,
II they do not take. our lives. Flies are the
carriers OF germs Of several contagious
diseases. Microbes are the concealed
weapons that they. unbeknown to us. have
been carrying for ages upon their bodies.
Not long since Russian physician.
SAwTsCHENKO. wrote a paper. in which he
came to the conclusion that flies are direct
spreaders OF the contaglon OF Asiatic
cholera. and that each fiy-speck must be
looked upon as another centre for the ex-
tension OF the disease. This refers. OF
course. to the times Of cholera epidemics.
The same author made series OF expert
ments in connection with his study OF this
subject. and easily demonstrated the pres
ence Of the comma bacillus OF cholera In the
excretions OF flies for two or three days
after feeding these insects upon pure
cholera cultures. The insects experimental
with were the common house-hy and the
bluebottle fly. They were first infected
with the cholera cultures and then fed with
sterilized bouillon. In certain experiments
they were fed upon raw meat subsequently
to the infection with cholera. and in these
instances number OF saprophytes were
found mingled with the comma bacllli.
When files were fed upon the intestinal con-
tents OF victims Of the cholera scourge. all
sorts OF bacteria were associated with the
contagious bacilli in their cxcrctions. The
cholera germs were found to lose none OF
their virulence during their passage through
the body OF the fly. and other microbes were
ascertained to retain their vitality under
the Same conditions for several days.
No decisive experiments have been car
ried out with regard to the relation OF our
household enemy, as a germ carrier. to other
diseases. such rs diphtherla. scarlet foyer.
smallpox, and yellow fever. but there Is no
question that he Ia more often responsible
for tho spread OF contagious diseases than
Is ordinarily supposed. AS to tuberculosis.
there is no doubt that it is quite fire.
quently propngatcd by tho common house.
fly. by being carried from tho sputa OF
consumptive patients and distributed
about the house and spread upon food.
Not only that. but the hy sLings sometimes.
and especially whore tho skin is thin and
delicate. as often in infants and children.
Tubercular germs have been known to he
introduced into the systems OF babes in this
wise. and the little unfortunates have sub
sequently succumbed to consumption OF |
the lungs or bowels or to a more terrible !
manifestation OF the bacillus OF tuberculosis. |
namely: tubercular meningitis.
The moral OF these recent medical lnves- |
legations and statements is the Punishment !
OF the ny from our dwellings. What quar-
nntine could protect us from cholera ships |
In the lower bay. II the myriad insect enc |
mics OF mankind were to have free access |
to our homes There must DO u revolution
against the dominion OF the flies. Down
with the Dipterai