The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-13

that air and sunshine kin Infection r.
given time, but their very access gives
opportunity for the flies to do serious
mischief as c~Onveyors Of fresh infec-
ton wherever they put their feet. IN
a few minutes they may load thtm-
selves with the objections from tv-
phOid or d~ysenteric patient, not as vet
sick enough to be in hospital or under
observation. and carry the poison SO
taken up into the very mids Of the
food and water for use at the next
meal. There is no long and round
about process involved. 1t is very plain
and direct. Yet when the thousands
Of lives are at stake in his way the
danger passes unnoticed. and the con
sequences are disastrous and seem
mysterious until attention is directed
to the point. then it becomes simple
enough in all conscience"
Another very serious source Of IN
lection in which flies play a prominent
part is in the milk supply. As is Wc.I
known, milk is a most excellent mo
dunn for the development of haci.i
which multiply in it with exceeding
rapidity. Experiments haV shown
hat a single fly contaminated 10y ty-
phoid germs may spread c~ontagion
throughout an entire community,
Epidemics of intestinal diseases
among infants. fed with COWS milk
appear to be caused more often 10y
flies than any other source. Mix
comes to cities from rural districts,
where the principles of sanitation are
not applied. This fact points TO the
necessity Of handling milk, especially
during hot weather. with great care
and cleanliness. The use of clean milk
in q community always lowers the in
FAINT death rate.
Another preventive measure is 10
keep milk clean through its entire
curse from COW to consumer. Also To
keep it cool and always away from
flies. All sewer openings on private
or public property should have blind
openings of such a nature that it VIII
be Impossible for flies to visit them.
All refuse from dwellings Shout be
disposed of in such a m that no
flies could get at it. Manure heaps are
the most luxurious media for the mui-
t~iplication of flies. Manure should
never be piled near a dairy or dwell
ing. It's best disposition is to work II
into the soil as soon as possible during
the summer months.
The best way to abate the fly NUS
ance is to prevent the breeding of the
insect. This is much more easily &C
com plished than is usually assumed.
Flies breed chiefly in stable manure
and in excrement of all kinds, @arb-
age, etc.
Manure should be stored in dark,
f1y-proof receptacles, and should D."
removed at weekly intervals during
the fly season. On the farm il may he
removed and spread once a week or
stored at a distance of at least one
quarter Of a mile from a dwelling.
A small amount of sulphate of IRON
scattered daily in the breeding place.
is said to restrict the development OF
the fly maggots.
Windows and doors should be Wf5I
screened: milk, fruit and other ioCd
should be carefully covered with net
ting. Flies may be caught on SUCK
fypaper, cut in strips and suspended
from the ceiling. A 5 to S per cent
solution of formaldehyde. sweetened
with 6 or honey, and placed N
shallow vessels on window stills ana
tables, serves as a good substitute Tor
arsenical and cobalt fly p~oisons.
The common house fly IS q medium
sized fly, grayish in color, with us
body somewhat streaked with black
ish gray. Its body, but more especl-
ally its legs and feet. are covered WITH
minute hairs. It's mouth parts ara
formed for tapping and not biting. yet
many people think of the house fly a.
being able to bite.
AT the approach Of warm weather
the flies come forth from their win
ter quarters. When winter comes
nearly all flies perish-only a few HI
bernate to give rise to the next sum
mer's brood.