The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-10-18

mouth parts this is physical I'M pos
| sibility. But it is none the less dam
gerous for that reason.
"W .le it does not inoculate the in
divdual as the mosquito does it is most
active agent in the transmission OF dis
ease because it communicates the
germs to the food eaten by people.
I'm certain sections of the country
there Is a common idea that flies bite
before a rain. This is true, but 1t is not
the househy that does the biting. 1t
is the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans)
which has a Particularly exasperating
bite. which is also t, certain degree
dangerous.
This is the fly which is probably
responsible for the transfer of surra
in the Philippines. The approach OF
a storm frequently drives it into dwell
lings. where 1t is a source OF keen an
noyance to the occupants.
''The other species of flies which are
Of especial Importance are the little
fruit flies (Drosophia ampelophila), so
commonly found in houses in the a'l-
tumn, attracted to overripe or decaying
fruit, which sometimes swarm in great
numbers about the fruit stands in the
markets. These also breed in filth and
play an important part in the disease
transfer relations.
There is also the species known as
the little house fly (Homalomyia carnl-
cularis) a small insect with light-col-
ored abdomen, commonly found on
windows, and so much like the ordin-
airy fly that it can hardly be distinS-
uished from it. 1t has, however. a
piercing prOboscis and bites severely.
There are also the forms known to en-
tomologists as PhOro fcrmorata and
Sarcaphaga trivialis.
That is enough concerning the va
riety of flies. LII brief the results OF
these observations indicate:
in the interest of health, and es-
pecially as obyiating the possibility
of the transfer of typhoid fever by flies,
filth of every description should be re-
moved or buried forthwith.
Every effort should be made by
boards Of health in cities and by pri-
vate persons in the country to limit the
breeding of the common hOusefly. In
addition there should be a strict super
vision of stables in which horses are
kept
Il have found by careful experiment
tai work with different insecticidal
substances that cloride of lime is the
most efficient thing that can be applied
to filth accumulations in such places,
but the trouble is that chloride Of lime
is rather expensive. At the stable OF
the department of agriculture the re-
fuse of the stalls is gathered in one
spot and treated to chloride OF lime,
the experiment proving so successful
that the number of house flies in the
whole reighborhood has been less
ered Il remarkable etcnt.
How do we propose to make war on
ties, pests? That is simple unough.
The division of entomology will send
ont literature of which vast amount
is being published to health boardsand
committees and individuals all over
the United States directing them as to
the means and materials to be used in
killing off flies and employing preven-
tive measures for the spread and trans
mission of disease germs by these in
sects.
while this Is being done expert
ments will be conducted by the govern
ment experts to discover more efficient
methods for carrying on the campaign.
Our first efforts will be to urge upon
the people the necessity of care.
determination, as far as possible,
will come later"