Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-07-25
INSECTS AND DISEASE.

iAHAA1a W -
degree In the press of ridiculing
'bugOlogists." so called.
They were represented as in the
main a harmless set Of people, quite
useless and rather crazy, and Con.
gress was warned against becoming
infected with their chronological en-.
thusiasm or persuaded into forward.
ing their ideal by appropriations.
Congress, however, was led far
enough astray to permit and pay for
the establishment of an chronological
bureau. which has proved to be one
Of the very most useful and important
In the Agricultural Department, says
The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Everyone now is familiar with the
work that has been done in disclosing
the enormous damage done to every
thing useful that grows. by innumer-
able forms of insect life in studying
the origin and habits OF these de-
structive pests, and in devising
methods to check their ravages and
keep them under control.
Though much remains 10 be done.
the resulting saving TO farmers Is
much more than equal to the entire
administrative cost Of the department.
Turning its attention In another d.
rection. the bureau has been investi-
eating the economic loss TO the cOun-
TRY through insects that carry dis
ease, and las lately sent out a pamph-
let setting forth the discoveries that
have been made in regard 10 the dis
semination OF diseases by insects By
scientific Investigators. and the sue
cess so far attained In getting the up
per hand OF them.
Everyone is familiar with the real.
ly epOchmaking discovery Of our med
ical men In regard TO the agency Of
1.-The mosquito in spreading yellow
fever and malaria, and the heroic self
sacrifice by which IL was demon
strated.
After smallpox no such conquest
over devastating diseases has ever
been made. and II is almost impos-
sible to estimate its consequences In
not only the saving OF life and health
but the prevention OF economic loss
as well.
Think what a yellow fever epidemic
meant TO the communities II rayaged,
and to adjoining sections which quar-
antined against Il in the cessation and
prevention OF business.
Consider. too. the loss not only OF
life, but the destruction of energy and
initiative caused by malaria. which,
prevailing AS ii has for many genera
lions In some sections. has doubtless
so modified and deteriorated the physi-
cal character OF the people as 10 their
standing among nations.
Now. the house fly. which has been
tolerated as necessary nuisance.
has been under investigation and found
to be just about as bad as the mo-
squito.
The report says: 1t has been sci.
entldcally demonstrated that tho
common house fly - an active agent
in the dissemination OF typhoid fever.
Aslatic cholera and other intestinal
diseases from the excreta OF patients
TO the food supply Of the healthy in
diyiduals. and that certain specie,
OF tieas are the active agents in tho
conveyance OF bubonic plague"
Spotted fever is carried by ticks,
ophthalmia by the house fly and pink
eye by small flies. Bedbugs also car
~ diseases. and the house fly Is
found to be one OF the means ~
spreading tuberculosis. A simple
statement OF these facts without 90
ing into the details sufficiently demon.
strates the enormous losses over and
above the cost OF medical attendance
which these insects cause.
Along with the war now wasting on
tuberculosis a campaign must De- be
gun against the mosquito and the
house ny.
I'm the first place screen them out
then destroy their breeding places.
The mosquito must have stacnan,
water. which can always De- eliminated.