The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-04-21
THE HOUSE FLY
A DEADLY ENEMY
WELL WORTHY TO BE RANKED
AMONG THE DEADLY
PLAQUES.

Time was, and not so very long
ago, when serious proposal by the
government to undertake the exter-
minatiOn of the house fly as a deadly
enemy of the human race would have
been regarded with amazement aud
derision. That insect had for ages been
regarded as an innocent IL not, in
deed, a benehcent creature, the only
indictment of which was fits procliv-
ity for disturbing late sleepers and
for annoying with it's too affectionate
attentions the possessors of hairless
pates. AS for the possibility of rid
ding the world of it, even were that
desirable, it would have been dis
missed with invincible incredulity, as
though one had suggested the drying
up of the ocean. Those were the days
when we made bricks in Egypt" I'm
bondage to ignorance and superstitu-
ton; before the coming of Pasteur to
set us free.
Now it is perfectly well known,
however, that the fly was well worthy
to be ranked among the deadly plaques.
which scourged recalcitrant Pharoah,
and that it is in reality a singularly,
noxious creature to whose black ac-
count pestilence and death are to be
abundantly charged. 1t is the perth
nacious purveyor Of a dozen or more
diseases, including conspiculously ty-
phoid, diphtheria, cholera, and-per
hapS above all else-"summer COM
plant" cholera infantum and the al
lied enteric ills of childhood The
mention of cobra and kraft makes men
shudder, Yet the fly probably causes
more deaths each year than all the
venomous serpents of the Indian jun
gle. Familiarity with it-as with vice
has caused us to regard it with toll
erance, but that regard in no degree
divests it of its detestable characteris-
tics and its destructive potentially.
The determination of this pest is no
| doubt a formidable undertaking. but
its difficulty is no greater than it's
need. Experience, indeed, gives much
| encouragement for the enterprise. The
mosquito has not, il is true, been ex-
terminated The campaign against it
is yet too new for such a result But
a degree of progress toward that end
has been made which a few years ago
would have seemed incredible. and
| the sanitary results Of il are crafty
ing beyond all expectation. If mala-
ria could be banished from Port Said
and yellow fever from Cuba and Pa
| AeiAie1f II WOulNl certainly not seem
utopian to plan a great abatement Of
the plague of flies. if not entire eN-
! tinctiOn of that death bearing nui-
| Sance
The systematic campaign which is
to be started this spring by the De-
partment of Agriculture deserves en-
! couragement and cooperation. 1t is
to be conducted in rural regions
chiefly, where the need is perhaps eV-
en- greater than elsewhere and where
the difficulties are perhaps greatest.
In cities the health boards ought re
undertake similar campaigns with en-
ergy and persistence. II this is done,
and If all people treat the ny as those
should who have regard for either
cleanliness or health. the approximate
determination of the bansful little
creature will not be remote No have
practically exterminated, throHt
fshness and greed or through
wantonness, SO many inRoaeat ah..
beautiful creatures that we surely
should be ready to do the sNrne with
creatures which are devoid OF even
a single redeeming trait 10 recon-
mend them to mercy or toleration.-
N. Y. Tribune.