The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-07-01
THE VILLAINOUS Fly.
Kills More People Annually Than
are Slain by all the Murder
ers-Branded Typhoid Fly"
Seven Varieties of Flies.

Seven Varieties of Flies.
[Dr. R. B. Beckwith, who is
spending some time in New
York, sends to The Robesonian a
article on the fly by
Frederick J. Haskin, but the
name of the paper from which
the article was taken was not
given. 1t is regretted that pro-
per credit cannot be given on ac-
count Of that oversight, but as
the article contains much valu-
able information most of it is re-
produced.
The fight on the house fly that
is now being made in the various
cities of the country has brought
about a complete revolution of
sentiment as to that insect. When
science came to look carefully in
to his habits, Mr.. Fly was found
not to be the inoffensive sort of
citizen he had always been re-
garded. 1t had long been known
that he was bothersome, but he
was found to be a william of the
deepest dye, killing more people
very yearthanarekilledby by allthe
murderers in the world. He has
been given a name since his true
character has come to light, a
name which brands him wherev-
er he goes-the Typhoid fly"
DR.. L. C. Howard, the United
States entomologist, has selected
that name for him. He agrees
that the term is a little harsh, as
there are other causes Of typhoid,
and says that manure fly"
would fit him rather better, since
his favorite breeding place is in
horse manure. But for public
use DR.. Howard thinks typhoid
fly" is the best name.
The evidence against the fly is
complete, and convincing. Many
a murderer has gone to the gal
lows on weaker. Not long ago
Ala flies were caught in different
parts Of the country, and they
carried an average Of a million
and a quarter germs to the fly.
1t may be said by the skeptic
that the fly is so small he cannot
carry filth. But if anyone will
look at him through a high-pow-
cred microscope the error of such
a conclusion will clearly be seen.
Under the miscroscope he be-
comes the most fuzzy creature
alive, hairy from tip to toe, and
terribly Indifferent about keeping
clean.
These Ala flies were caught in
sterilized nets, so that none of
the germs found could be laid to
the account of the net. Then
each fly was placed in a seperate
bottle which had been sterilized
and filled with known quantity
Of sterilized water. The fly was
allowed to swim around until ex.
hausted, and then a drop of the
water was placed under a micro
scope and the germs counted. A
careful record of each fly wa:
kept, and the germs found or
each were found to range from
500 to 6, 800, 600, estimated. Tht
next fly that falls into the read
er's coffee or his milk may leav'
six million germs in the cup!
The house fly is thorough,
omnivorous. He will eat any
thing that he comes across, AM
| the more filth there is the bette
it suits him. Breeding in ma
nure by preference he spends
fair share of his living days il
such surroundings. He flies di
rect from the manure heaps t
our houses. and onto our food
whenever opportunity present
itself, and is always laden wit
microscopic particles Of filth, an
disease. Here again has Mr.. Fl
been Caught with the goods o
him." as the police say. In tn
army camps during the Spanish
American war it was found ths
the flies which swarmed abou
the latrines would come directl
to the mess tents, the white lin
being plainly visible on their fee
In New York filth was dyed wit
red ink and set in the street
Flies soon showed up in the hous
with her on their feet.
The most startling and concll
sive evidence that has bee
brought against the fly is tn;
gathered by DR.. Daniel D. Jacl
son, in his investigation of tt
subject of harbor pollution ;
New York. With his assistant
he went into the whole questie
With great thoroughness, and h
findings are noteworthy. T
found that in the neighborho,
of sewer outlets the flies we
most numerous, and that in tho
same neighborhoods typhoid f
yer and other intestinal diseas
were most prevalent. The null
ber Of victims Of these diseas
rose and fell with the comil
and passing of the fly trit
Daily examinations of captur
flies were made, and millions
germs were found. In some
4 stances the flies were careful
3 washed and completely cleans
q Of germs. They were then
8 leased and allowed to swarm on
~ infected material in the labol
: tory, they collected as ma
germs the second and third ii