The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-13
THE STATE LABORATORY
Bulletin on Examinations, the Fly
and Sane Fourth

Burlington, June 13.-The quarterly
bulletin of the state board of health
bearing date of June |, is Just out. 1t
contains a report of the specimens ex
amined at the state laboratory of hy-
giene during January, February and
March. the first quarter of the year.
The total number of examinations
was 1892 of which 2493 we're cultures
for diphtheria bacilli, 457 were spu-
tum for tubercule bacilli, 265\ were
of milk and cream, 204 were Of other
foods, 169 were of blood for vidal
reaction, 1888 were of water and 157
were miscellaneous analyses. or the
265 samples of milk and cream 100
were above standard and l05 were be
low. Practically all the samples be-
low standard were so branded be-
cause they were dirty. Eight of these
came from Burlington. OF the 204
samples of food examined 1862 were
above standard, 80 were below and
nine were unclassified. The foods
that failed to pass were not scored
so heavily as in some former bullet
ms, indicating that manufacturers
are beginning to see the error of
their ways Some interesting com
ments are made, however Several
samples of butter were found to be
oleomargarine some baking powders
were alum phosphate powders; some
frankfurters were artifcially colored,
while some other forms of sausage
t,,nral,. sspougaH.w coma 90 r1fpnc Vrora
packed in olive oil and some in cot
tonsesd oil some figs were practical
~ free from insects, while some evap
GRATED apples we're free from in
sects;" some extracts were found to
be colored limitations. OF 81 samples
OF drugs examined. 10 were legal and
~ illegal. Most OF the illegal brands
bore misleading labels. The bulletin
closes with an article on the danger
GUS and deadly house fly" and an APP
peal for a sane and safe observance
OF the Fourth of July. These articles
follow:
The most abundant and widely dis.
tributed OF pestilent insects is the
common house fly (Musca domestica)
constituting about 80 per cent OF the
various species OF flies found about
barns and houses. This hexapod
mixer" has about 10000 very fine
hairs on its feet, from which oil ex-
udes constantly, enabling the fly to
walk (by capillary attraction in any
position ON a dry surface which is
not too dusty. The house fly breeds
preferably In horse manure, though
at times In garbage or human feces,
the full cycle OF development from the
egg being nine or ten days. Richie
says IL Is estimated that In one sum.
mer 800 flies may hatch in a cubic
inch OF manure II this is left undis.
turbed
The hairy nature OF it's feet makes
the fy an unrivaled carrier OF filth
and contagion, and as many as 10000
bacteria have been found upon a sin
Gle fly. Among the germs which
have been thus isolated in pure cul
ture, we may mention: A. typhi alb
dominalis, B. coli, bubonicae, pyoge
mic micro-organisms and the eggs OF
most of the intestinal parasites. MI
crobes are carried mostly upon the
legs OF the insect but are likewise
deposited In It's feces and may be lib
Grated by the dry decay OF dead flies
In one speck left by fly that had
been captured on the face of leper
says Richie, lii5 leprosy germs
were counted.
TO diminish and destroy what mas
be termed the Fly Peril. there ar,
three main principles to follow: /
Remove the first cause by having
manure removed every week (befor,
maggots have time to develop into
illesl or II this Is impracticable, keel
It carefully covered in n closed box
tusing chlorinated lime as dlslnfec
tant, or screened with wire gauze
Garbage should be protected In The
same way. when II cannot be burne,
or fed to chickens or pigs. 2. Pre-
vent entrance of flies into house an,
contact with foods and drinks by wei
| fitting screens for doors and window
and the quick storing OF vlands II
refrigerator and cupboards also net
ting for the helpless sleeping baby
3. Kill every fly on sight. II you can
with wire killer" dilute formalil
trenewed every day. on plate. o
sticky fly paper, the black fly pape
should not be used where there ar