Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-30
FLIES MENACE TO
PUBLIC HEAL TIL
S~ystematized Cooperation by
Municipalities Against Pests
Is Strongly Urged.


".
TN the country the individual
householder should care for his own
surroundings in such a way as to free
himself from flies, but in communities
this will not be effective. A single
stable owner by the proper care of his
nay greatly reduce the local
supply, but there will still be many
thousands from other stables in the
neighborhood. 1t becomes necessary,
therefore, that an organization of some
kind or some system of cooperation
should exist in communities.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and CIubwomen.
In a number OF towns and cities iii
the United States the initiative in the
lily crusade has been taken by health
officers, but in the majority Of COM
munities the health officials have to be
stirred up. In a few communities, pri-
vate practitioners have been the excit-
ing cause of anti-hy work.
Elsewhere the beginnings have been
made either by a single private indi-
vidual or by some local organization,
as a civic league, a woman's club, or a
town Improvement society. Women's
clubs have lone very effective work In
this direction.
In most communities nowadays one
or the other of these organizations or
all of them exist. In towns where there
are no such organizations they should
be started at once. In such cases let
any one convinced of the necessity for
an anti-hy crusade talk to his or her
friends and, unrebuffed by Indifference
oil the part of others, persevere until a
group is formed.
Health Authorities.
THE first effort of such an organiza-
ton should be TO enlist the sympathy
and cooperation of the health authori-
ties of the community. This gained,
every possible effort should be made
to induce the contro lers of the appro-
priations for the health officials ia real
ize the Importance of this work. Health
officers without funds at their disposal
for the employment of inspectors and
for the carrying out of regulations are
helpless, and therefore the first step,
after the health oBcials themselves are
convinced of the desirability of the
work, Is to secure the funds. In some
cases this has been done by private
subscription. the money to be expended
under the supervision of the health Of
ficers. In other cases private individ-
uals with sufficient leisure have had
themselves appointed as health inspec-
tors without salary.
Before all this, however, a campaign
of publicity must be inaugurated. In
many cities during the summer of 1910
the local newspapers themselves inau-
gurated the campaign.
A q rule the newspapers can be re-
lied pon in such a. meritorius cam
paign as this, and city editors should,
If possible, be placed upon the COM
mittees of the civic organizations. The
newspapers, however. shout be sup
piemented by posters, and by tracts ex-
planning the whole situation in a few
striking sentences. This has been done
very extensively in some cities. 1t is
important hat the organization should
not rest with a single poster OF with
a single tract. but the subject should be
emphasized again and again, just as
some of the newspapers did last sum :
mer. In this way the whole community
becomes at least educated upon the
subject, and, with q very general
knowledge of the fact that flies. are
dangerous as well as burdensome, and
of the fact hat they can be controlled
a great step has been gained. In other
words, with this education practically
the whole community will be found to
support the movement,
Beginning the Work.
Let us take the case of a community
in which such work has moi yet beef
undertaken; let US suppose that an or
ganization has been perfected or is in
process of being perfected. The easiest
way to get ammunition Is to write to
the secretary of the American Civic
Association, Mr.. Richard B. Watrousi
whose address is Union Trust building,
Washington, D.. C. The fly COMMITTEES
of this association, of which Mr.. Ed
ward Hatch, jr., of New York, is the
chairman, has done some very ener-
getic work., and the whole association
seeks the opportunity to cooperate di-
rectly with civic societies of every
character, such as women's clubs, Local
civic leagues, consumers leagues
school improvement societies, and al
organized bodies, in a direct crusade
against the typhoid fly.
"All health officers are, or should be
acquainted with the work of all the
rest. But 1t is well for citizens as
sociations, civic leagues, women
clubs. who take up sanitary matters
and public spirited citizens generally
to know what an effective health Off
Ger or board of health should do, ID
order that they nay intelligently criti-
else the administration of such mat
ters by their own local officials, or bacd
up efficient officials where village r
tees or town councils or city boards
of aldermen are not disposed to grant
the necessary funds."-From "Tht
House Flv-Disease Carrier by DR.. r.