Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-13
LEADS WAR ON FLIES
Or. /. o, HoWard'S Address on
Disease-Breeding Insects.
PLEA MADE FOR SANITATION
Elimination of Pools, Refuse Dumps
and Swamps Advocated-Pre-
ventive Measures Best.
PLEA MADE FOR SANITATION

Although he did not make use Of that
expression. Swat the n.y." DR.. l. o.
Howard, chief Of the bureau Of entomol-
ogy. Agricultural Department, last night
outlined the various methods by which
disease-spreading flies and mosquitoes
may be exterminated. He addressed the
Cleveland Park School and Community
Association, and urged the residents Of
that suburb to take the initiative IN
forming an organization for the purpose
Of killing the insects and destroying the
breeding places. F.
The address was given in the John
Eaton School, Lowell and 34th streets,
and an audience that filled the lobby ap-
plauded the scientist for his zeal In
working for the destruction Of the pests.
Stereopticon slides were used that left
no doubt in the minds Of the spectators
that flies and mosquitoes are the chief
fever. cholera, malaria, tuberculosis and,
In a certain degree, smallpox.
Diseases Classified.
These diseases DR.. Howard termed dis
eases of civilization or defects Of civiliza-
ton due to defective sanitation.
1--WE are passing out of the era of nedi-
cines and drugs into the epoch of prevent
i've measures" said DR.. Howard. Nov
the measure that will prevent most con-
tagious diseases Is the determination or
flies and insects by destruction OF the
pools. refuse dumps and swamps. when
one sees an abundance OF flies or mos
quitoes, then one sees sign OF non SAM
tation. The appearance Of these insects
means that filth exists within q half mile
Of that place.
I'm Washington the death-dealing mos
quito breeds in the sewer traps near
houses and in the sewers on street cor
ners In the country theee dangerous In
sects breed In pools of water. holes In
trees, cutters of tin roofs, tin cans, chick
en- pans, flower pots and In refuse dumps.
To exterminate disease l would request
all residents Of this park to organize
bands to seek out these breeding places
and by the use of oil or other sanitary
agents destroy them. BY all means in
terest the children In the work. Every
child Is a born naturalist, anyway, and
this is q good section in which to start
the crusade.
An Ounce Of Prevention.
means millions Of the same species which
would develop later destroyed.
New Orleans in it's worst days, when
yellow 1eVef TaSed tnere. was Ittie WOi Sc
than Washington Is now. The trouble in
Washington Is not in its sanitary rules.
hut in its lack of health inspectors. DIR.
Woodward. the health officer. is handi-
capped. He has only sixteen inspectors
to aid him in stamping out disease. The
citizens should enlist in the crusade. and
no better start could be made than in
killing flies and mosquitoes"
Several of the slides used by DR.. How
ard showed how fly traps have been used
with great success in New England, es-
pecially in capturing the flies which breed
In garbage cans and stables.
Flies Multiply Quickly.
Figures were cited by the scientist to
show that an entire generation of thou
sands of flies can be propag gated in eight
days. Each time fly increases its spe-
cies, he said, it lays 100 eggs. and these
in turn multiply with equal rapidity.
DR.. Howard laid stress on the impor-
lance of destroying clothing and utensils
used in caring for sick patients. and con-
cluded by asking his auditors to kill flies
and mosquitoes wherever they are found.
He was given a vote of thanks by the
association at the conclusion Of the lee
ture.
DR.. c.. w. Hayes. vice president of the
association presided at the meeting