Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-05-20
A-nead. B-Tonsue. C-Foot. EGG.


son to suppose that the germs of the bubonic
plague may be transferred by heas and of typhus
fever by the body louise. but the encouragement
of the flea and the louise is by means difficult.
Only the fly, because treat him friend and
brother, is in position to reward US at his will
by the presentation of a package of destruction
that makes Pandoras box look like collection
of assorted chocolates and bonbons. He will
transmit in virulent form typhoid fever Asiatic
cholera summer dysentery and other intestinal
diseases, and tuberculosis all by the inges-
ton of ay-specks on food Therein lies almost
all the danger. 1t will also transmit it is true,
such diseases smallpox, scarlet-fever, measles,
chicken-pox, erysipelas, and even carbuncles but
practically only by incubation, that is, by depos-
1tlng the germs surface
membrane.
But it is not from contact with horse manure
ordinary refuse that the fly becomes so danger
Gus to the health of man. By far the greater peril
lies in the fact that it will breed in human ex-
creta. Because of this habit it carries the living
germs of typhoid, cholera and other intestinal
diseases to exposed food supplies and thousands
of unfortunates partaking of these, laid low
to suffer incalculable anguish of mind and body
until natural resistance enables them to over
come the poison death intervenes
When the total of misery and loss which
must be laid in this connection at the door the
mouse ny is taken into account, 1T will readily be
believed that no remedy, however drastic. to re-
move the cause, justly be regarded as super
1uous
the White House in 1905 presented figures show
ing that the decrease in the vital assets of the
alone a
year is more than $350,000.00O The house fly,
while not the sole carrier of the typhoid germ
takes such unenvable part in its distribution
that he may rightfully be charged with very con-
siderable part of the loss. Add this the dread
full toll exacted by intestinal disorders, and the
tiny agent, like the Djinn of the fisherman's jar,
set free through mans indiscretion looms more
and more menacingly until his terrifying shadow
fills and darkens the heavens.
These are the popular charges against the fly.
In principle they true, the violent enthus-
ton must be viewed with approving eye The
smoke and the effervescence will inevitably pass
but the solid impetus which distinguished the move
ment will remain. At the same time it is well to
remember that clear. calm understanding of the
actual truth, shorn of decorative hyperbole. is
more essential TO the success of the crusade than
all the unreasoning zeal which distinguishes
first rush upon the breastworks.
How easily the inquirer may be led astray from
the scientific aspect OF the affair is readily Illus
trated- Several years ago writer in the Boston
Medical and Surgical Journal declared that GER,
tain experiments seemed to offer an explanation
of the sporadic cases of cholera occurring in New
York city in 1892, in spite of the most careful
quarantine Maddox and Simmonds fed flies with
cholera spirila and obtained cultures of the bac-
terium from the insects so fed We have
before that bacteria suffer diminution of their
virulence iR passing through the fly. In 1892 IL
cases OF cholera developed in New York, the dis
ease being first brought in by steamship The
patients lived in wdelyseparated parts the city
and had personal association with each other.
The only striking fact common all the cases
that the victims were engaged In some form
of the food trade The bacillus. when examined.
proved to be identical with that discovered
shipboard- The physicians investigating the
method of infection forced exclude the
water supply They also declared, after much
perimentation and thought, that it incredible
that the wind had carried the germs great
in short a time. By a careful process
of elimination the guilt brought down the
fly. which by excreting cholera baciIn upon food
exposed in various localities. was thought to have
spread the dreaded disease
Now mark the scientific caution Of the physi