Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-06-16
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Suggestions From State Board of
Control Concerning Sanitary
Precautions During Sum-
mer Months.

In the combat against tuberculosis
il is necessary to take into account
every factor which in any way direct
ly or indirectly spread the disease.
AS summer draws near it will bring
as usual its swarms of flies and 9TH
er insect life and there is no greater
nuisance than the house flies which
infect the homes of our people.
However, if proper sanitation was
observed about the premises which
people call their homes the common
house fly would be much less prev
alent than it is.
All garbage, manure, cesspools,
open drains, and other unsanitary
conditions existing about the house
or barn will produce an incredible
number of flies as in decaying mat
ter of all kinds the fly breeds. The
first measure to be carried out there
fore is to remove all kinds of garb-
dSS dliu lIldIlulC anu ~ SlCoC Oil oPSh
drains which may lead from cess
pools or out closets. The next meas
ure of protection is to screen the
house and to diligently exclude from
the kitchen, the dining room and the
living apartments these little pests.
We have become so accustomed to
the fly that we look upon it
as an uhmiti2ated nuisance yet toll
crate its familiarity and for this
reason many a tragic story has been
written full of the most heart Break
ing sorrow.
Flies are great germ carriers. Their
feet are so constructed that they are
little cups. This enables them to
walk on ceilings. These vacuumed
feet become splendid agents in the
transmission of germs of typhoid
fever and tuberculosis. Recent in
vestigations made by the Merchants
Association of New York reveal TIE
fly as being responsible. for vast
amount of contagious sickness.
1t is urged that the people shall
with one accord protect themselves
against germs of disease which may
readily be carried into the home by
the fly. The food supply should be
thoroughly protected against flies;
rigid rule should be established in
every home which should be enforc-
ed in every instance, and no fly
should be permitted to crawl over
the food which is to be set on the
table for human consumption. Milk
should be especially particularly car
ed for. 1t should not only be pro-
tected from the fly but from dirt as
we'll. Many a little babe will be
killed this year in Iowa by careless
ness. Flies will carry germs of vari-
Gus diseases to the nipples on the
bottles of artifically fed infants, and
bacteria will be introduced into the
child's body. Milk from diseased
cows suffering with tuberculosis,
milk which has been produced un-
der unsanitary conditions in the
barn or yard, will be given to these
infants whose lives will be terminal
ed by various disorders, commonly
summer complaint, occasionally tu-
berculosis of the bowels.
Two important things are here
| considered: One is to SO far as pos
sible pre-, ent the breeding of flies by
removing garbage and waste and
pouring kerosene oil on stagnant
pools. The other is to protect the
TO, d supply against insects of all
kinds, particularly the fly. and see
to it hat little children are given
1 wholesome food free from disease
| germs or dirt