Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-04
FLIES CARRY DISEASE.

The division of entomology OF the De-
partment of Agriculture has begun a
campaign against the fly, which is held
to be a dangerous carrier of disease
Pamphlets on the subject have been
prepared for distribution and methods
of determination have been devised
under the supervision of DIR. .. u.
Howard, chief of the division.
Already thousands of pamphlets have
been put into the hands of health
boards and farmers throughout the
country. The necessity has been urged
of having better sanitation in the rural
districts. As result of various expert
ment it is thought that the number of
| flies will be ,apidly and enormously
lessened during ne present summer.
The pamphlets sent out by the govern
ment will give to the people some in
formation concerning flies that hitherto
has been in possession of the scientist
almost exclusively. 1t will dispel the
illusion that the common househy bites,
but it will call attention to the fact
that this insect the Musca domestica,
| is dangerous creature.
DIR. Howard has the following to say
about flies:
with disease caused by bacterial
organisms (which belong TO the plant
kingdom and not to the animal king
DOM biting insect is not necessary
for their transfer from the sick in
dividual to the healthy one in the ma
| jority of cases. Such diseases are
notably typhoid fever, cholera and
pulmonary consumption.
with these diseases, and especially
the first two, the agency of the non
biting flies becomes Important, and the
part they play in the transmission of
typhoid fever is particularly noticeable.
t'It has been known for some time
that flies may carry bacilli and bacteria
on their feet. That was experimentally
proved by allowing flies to walk over
culture, for later, when they walked
over stsrilized media, the bacteria de-
veloped.
moreover, as early as 1888 it was
shown by an italian Investigator that
flies fed upon pure cultures of typhoid
, bacillus were able to transmit virulent
bacilli. Again, early observation
demonstrated that flies are important
agents in the transmission of Asiatio
cholera.
"Typhoid fever, as will be remem-
bered. doubtless, was astonishingly pre-
!, valent in the military camps of this
! country during the war with Spain. AT
i that time the disease received a thor
. ough investigation at the hands of a
g special commission of army surgeons
! appointed for the purpose.
"It was shown that although excel
/ lent preventive measures had been
: recommended in the circulars issued by
the surgeon general OF the army, these
instructions were not carried out.
"Flies swarmed over the infected
i, filth that acoumulates around camp
" and then proceeded to the mess tents
and fed upon the food prepared for the
n soldiers. Thus, by the agency of flies
:, it was discovered and proved beyond 6
Il doubt disease germs were spread ano
4 carried to the food of the soldiers.
Q "For some time past / have beer
n carrying on an investigation for thS
G purpose of ascertaining what flies breed
y in refuse of various sorts, and con
70 versely, just what flies are found in
N diningrooms and kitchens where foot
IS is being prepared and served. These
investigations L have conducted will
the greatest care and in different part
ss of the country.
N SIN this way large amount of ma
re terial has been gathered. Briefly sum
e. married., we have found that the mum
I'd Der of species Of insects which breed il
filth containing germs is very large
y, ~ not less, in fact, than "A species o
., beetles and II species of flies. Som
10 of these are scarce and others ar
is abundant, but all are more or less dan
gerous as carriers and transmitters Q
disease.
NOW in the experiments carried O
IN in order to ascertain exactly which one
Nv of these are important in the disease
:, breeding function, more than $500 file
n were caught in kitchens and dining
n rooms in different parts of the countr
O. from Massachusetts to California an
he from New York to Louisiana.
lg at was proved that of the file
breeding in filth, six species were foun
re- in houses in sufficient numbers t
no no render them dangerous. There al
n. other dangerous species which do nc
,e, make their rendezvous in kitchens an
W diningrooms.
O.: cat the head of these six varietie
". must stand the common househy
" This insect constituted more than
IN per cent of the whole number of file
to captured in kitchens and diningrooml
while it was by no means one (
the species most commonly captured
garbage and other refuse, it was show
conolusively that under certain cond
N. tions that insect may be factor of IL
ed greatest Importance in the spread
n intestinal diseases.
on ''In the most clearly and hest care
;er for portions of large city these oond
or tions of course do not exist. The al
mirable water supply and sewerat
nut systems in such localities obviate in
ID large measure typhoid transfer poss
In. bilities. Yet even in such places II
ed danger may exist.
he 'But in army camps and in sma
i've towns and about farmers houses we
ee. sewerage facilities are lacking ii
hou sehy is constant source of danger
"The Musca domestica does not bit
On account of the structure of j
ore mouth parts this is physical imposs
Iall bility. But it is none the less da
gerous for that reason.
Of "While it does not inoculate the i
laii dividual as the mosquito does, it is
n ISL most active agent in the transmissi
irst of disease because it communicates t
ERE germs to the food eaten by people.
the SIN certain sections of the count
lin. there is a common idea that flies bi
IDLY before a rain. This is true, but it
and not the househy that does the bitin
1t is the stable fly (Stomoxys Gale
rans), which has particularly ext
:, perating bite, which is also to certa
lar degree dangerous.
r. "This is the fly which is probat
ing, responsible for the transfer of surra
fire the Philippines. The approach of
lder storm frequently drives it into dive
gon ings, where it is source of keen o
10 noyance to the occupants.
.ar 1.-THE other species of flies which q