Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10
FLIES AS CARRIERS OF DISEASE
IF. J. Otis, M. D., In Good Health.)

known insect, was not thoroughly UNI
derstood until in recent years. Although
| this insect is found in every habitation,
| from wigwam to castle. no one watched
IL closely enough to understand its habits
completely. 1t was not until the past
century that we began TO collect our
present knowledge of flies.
Muscae Domcsticus Is the scientific
name for this common insect.
During winter the habits of the fly arc
very much the same as those of the mos
quito. They leave the house, 60 into the
fields and secretc themselves we'll down in
the roots OF grass, or conceal themselves
beneath the branching twigs of shrubs
| Their ability to conceal themselves is
| quite wonderful. They do this in such "a
way as to protect themselves from wind
and weather. and the first sunshiny days
quicken the bodily activity thus stagnatcd
during the winter.
They do not enter the houses at once,
but go in search of breeding places. the
most favorable ones being in the manure
about the baryard. The temperature
here Is always excellent for the Develop
mcnt of their eggs which are deposited
| in little clusters in "a way TO be quite
overlooked by the usually careful OBJ
server. The eggs hatch, giving birth to
u worm onc-cighth to onc-fourth inch
long, rather blunt at one end, and taper
ing toward the other. The eggs usually
hatch in a day or two after being de-
posted. These small worms, or larvae,
pcrmcatc tho dccaying mass. and. after Il
| time. from three to five days.-chango
into the pupac. They remain in this stage
hut II day or two. when the fly escapes
| from the pupa house. The length of tho
period from the laying of the egg to the
development of the new fly Is from one
| to two weeks. The fly grows to its full
size the first day of its life history. The
small flies seen about the house ar" not
Iyoung flies developing, but different
kind of fy.
| Flies have long been known to be
| scavcngcrs. hut it is only since we have
| understood the nature Of infectious dis
| eases that the fly has become more i'm
portant because of its relation to tho
| causc of disease. The Bible records the
difficulty the ancient worthless had in
keeping flies away. and of late years wy
are learning that this is absolutely inn
operative.
| Recent Investigation on tho part of DR..
Alice Hamilton proved that the larg.
number of typhoid cases in the Ghetto
and similar districts IN Chicago was due
to the carrying of germs from insanitary
privios and sinks 10 the kitchens and
pantrics Of nearby residents. 1t is evil
dent that the fly has no right place in
doors or out 1t must go, or typhoid
| fever will reign.
| Half the battle necessary to oXtcrmin
ate typhoid fever will have been fought
when the lily has been managed as thor
oughly as has the mosquito. All flies
have to be dealt with, while in the case
of the mosquito there is but one variety
to consider--thc anaphelcs. As in deal
ling with the mosquito We destroy its
breeding place pools and vessels Of
water). so with the fly We must destroy
every heap of manure every decaying
carcass, and every accumulation of moist.
decayng material.
In the case of the mosquito it required
quantities of petroleum to destroy the
swamp breeding places, but dry earth is
Ievidently the material most essential to
destroy the f1y's breeding-placc.
| Dry earth is strictly an economical dis
infectant. and. consequently. there is no
reason why. IL the public at large under
stood it's value, the fly could not be al
stood the dangerous Significance of tho
fly when he provided his soldiers with a
paddle on their weapons, and instructed
them to place fresh dry earth in the
sinks Immediately after using If it was
necessary to be so cautious in a desert
country. how much more careful should
the people be in country where thor
ough drying cannot take place so quickly
thoroughly as it will be some day. livery
stables will he required by law to have
large. Theoretically scaled tanks in which
the manure may be kept until crcmu,ed
or until transferred to the field. to bo
plowcd into the soil without delay. AS
at the present time in the stockyards they
handle the diseased meats that are dam
gcrous to health. so, then. these tanks
will he under city Inspection. 1t will be
necessary then to keep all moist garbage
in insect-tght cans. The cities are APP
preaching this point with reference to
the garbage. but there is room for much
Improvement. Already our cities. in nves-
tigating every case OF typhoid fever. as
certain from what dairy the milk is Sc
cured. In the future they Will ascertain
whether all manure is transferred twice
/
possible for fly to gain access to tho
dairy utensils Typhoid fever germs grow !
in milk without souring II or producing |
any physical change whatever. The |
germs may be as thick and lively rs you /
ever saw pollywoGs in puddle, hut there |
is no way for the housewife to detect it. /
We now understand that the germ Of
the almost incurablc dysontory of trOp-
zeal countries is identical with the germ
that produces mild diarrhea in the United |
states. 1t is the same germ, also. that
produces summer complaint or diarrhca
in children. 1t is this germ that carries
away thousands of helpless infants in
this country. This germ is most fire.
Qucntl carried to or from sinks and old |
fashioned privy vaults. How often the
observer has seen a baby hopelcssly i'll. II
the mother watching every movement
and breath. fearing it is baby's last. In
the woodshcd or on the rear porch ha
has noticed this insect on babys soled
napkins.
This same observing eye has witnessed
next door Il healthy baby sleeping sweet
ly on the front vcranda while a half
dozen or more ruthless flies have stolen
up in the absence of tho mother, and are
cndeavOring to feast on babys lips. Is
it surprising that week later this baby H
too, is fast losing its strength because
Ct the dreaded summer complaints that