The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-01
THE HOUSE FLY.
IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGER
Gus ANIMAL ON EARTH.

He Is the Carrier and Spreadel
Of Deadly Diseases and Should bt
Externfinated.
The Augusta Chronicle says "a
we'll known citizen Of Augusta
even though mis- residence happens
to be in Summerville-sends us
marked copy of Harper's Weekly
containing a highly interesting ar
ticle on the danger of the common
house fly. He suggests that we
keep up the crusade against the
house fly in the hope that all citi'
zens may be aroused to a proper un'
derstanding of the subject-and tc
action.
The writer of the article in Har.
per's Weekly points out that the most
dangerous animal on earth is the
common and despised house fly is
the conclusion, not of sensation-
mongers, but of cQol-deaded and eau
tious scientific investigators.
1t is by a jury of experts drawn
from most of the principal cities oi
the United States and Canada that
this decision has been reached. The
case was that of The people VS.. Mus
ca Observation-Disclosures the COM
mon house fly; and by this verdict
the defendant has forfeited all right
into life and liberty.
Hitherto the fly has been regard
ed complacently as a harmless null
sance and considered to be an an
noying creature with great persls-
tence and excessive familiarity,
said DR.. Daniel D. Jackson, in a
speech read before the joint conven-
ton of the American Civic Associa-
tion and the National Municipal
league last fall at Pittsburg. Re-
garded in the light Of recent knowl-
edge, the fly is more dangerous than
the tiger or the cobra. Worse than
that, he is, at least to our climate
more to be feared than the mosquito
and may easily be classed, the world
over, as the most dangerous animal
on earth "
The fly, says the article in Harper's
Weekly has been found gully, 10
fact, of being the chief agent in the
transmission of numerous bacteria
Including those of tuberculosis. bu'
principally the bacilli Of typhoid and
intestinal diseases. That flies are
carriers Of disease has been recog-
nized by sanitarians for decade OF
more, but it is only during the last
two years that the extensive inves'
legations have been undertaken
which have exposed the constant
danger to health which these pests
convey-and which have also, for.
tunately. demonstrated the ease with
which flies may be eliminated from
properly kept households.
Quoting further, we learn thai
seven different varieties Of flies are
found in our houses, ninety-eight
per cent Of which are represented by
the common house fly. Flies lay
their eggs only in fermcnting ant
decaying substances-by preference
in horse manure. Hence every stable
is a center Of infection unless pc
riodically disinfected. The fly mag
got is also Matched out in latrines
and ash-pot refuse, such as bedding
straw, rags, paper, scraps Of meat
fruit, etc., on which substances the
larve subsist after they hatch, which
occurs in about twelve days after
the egg has been laid. 1t is es
timated that a single fly, laying 12t
eggs at a time, will produce pro
gency amounting to seXtillions Gy
the end of the season.
The writer Of the article in Har
per's Weekly then offers the fol
lowing facts about the fly, whicl
every one should know:
The common house fly is a carrier
of disease.
Typhoid fever, diarrhoea, dysente
ry, and tuberculosis are carried by
flies.
Flies feed on food and also or
filth. They go from the one to the
other. In this way they carry dis
ease germs to the table. One fl.
may convey six million bacteria.
Flies breed in manure heaps, out
houses, refuse, ash-pits, and all de
crmp1s ng animi: or vegetable mat
it:. and uncleaI places. Do not al
low decaying material Of any sort 4
accumulate on or near your prem
ises. If such exist, cover with lime
or kerosene oil, AMI remove as ear!
as possible.
See that your sewerage system !!
in good order.