Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-12
Fight the Fly.

definite would be accomplished in the
battle against that spreader of di-
seasc There was a time when people
| thought flies We're scavangers, really
| helpful insects who took poisons away
| from food and brought none back.
The process of rea soning by when
that conclusion was reached is some
| what obscure, but nevertheless the be-
lief vas widespread and seldom nues-
tiored.
Scientists, in investigating the ny :
| methods Of doing business, found that
spreading. not collecting filth, was ms
principal occupation. Every physician
| who has looked into the matter has
adorted the later and more sensible
view. In more or less half hearted
manner campaigns against the fly
have been maintained in thickly set
tied communities. If the flies did not
multiply by the millions every season.
even those unenthusiastic efforts
would bring noticeable results. When
il is considered that one fly would
have 0.l54 900 0O descendants in one
~ plain that nothing but the most
vigorous md well organized methods
will avail.
There is nc longer any doubt that
the common house fly is responsible
for much OF our illness. II has been
Frozen time and again that the in
sect carries the bacilli OF typhoid.
tuberculosis and intestinal diseases.
Aside from these fatal faults the
fly is filthy. Its principal breeding
place is manure heaps. garbage cans
and stagnant pools. 1t is born in filth,
bred in filth and spreads it wherever
it goes.
The ny plants his disease germs on
the food set forth for the meal. 1t
brings more disease to children dur
ing the hot summer months than any
other agent. Disease carrying milk is
almost invariably made 50 by the fly.
When the milk is always properly
guarded, half the battle Cor the babies
lives will be won.
The fight must be made by the peo-
pie. 1t is their safety which is at
stake. on that account the first step
IA, NJ Ea al
Several states have officially rccog-
nZcd the need of better knowledge of
he facts and are hard at work spread
ing the important points before the
people.
The Merchants Association of New
York city has prepared a set of rules
for dealing With the fly nuisance
which are worth keeping. They are
as follows:
Keep the flies away from the sick.
especially those i'll with contagious
diseases. Kin every fly that strays in
to the sick room. His body is covered
with disease germs.
Do not allow decaying material of
any sort To accumulate on or near
your premises.
All refuse which tends in any way
to fermentation, such as bedding
straw, paper. waste and vegetable
matter. should be disposed of or COW
cred with lime or kerosene oil
Screen all food, whether in the house
or exposed for sale
Keep all receptacles for garbarge
covered and the cans cleaned
or srrinkled with oil or lime.
Keep all stable manure in vault or
pit. screened or sprinkled with lime
oil or other cheap preparation. such
as are sold by a number of reliable
See that your sewerage system is
in good order: that it does not leak.
S up to-date and not exposed to flies
Pour kerosene into the drains.
Burn or bury all table refuse.
screen all windows and doors. eS-
pecially i'm the kitchen and dining
room
If you see flies, you may be sure
that their breeding place is in nearby
hlth. II may be behind the door un-
DER the table or in the cuspidor.
II there is no dirt and filth there
will be no flies.
If there is a nuisance in the neigh
borhood write at once to the health
department.
These rules were prepared for New
York city. but they can be used to
advantage anywhere. The battle will
not last long if everybody does his
cl,