The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-30

screens to protect themselves against flies even without the infinitely more i'm portant consideration that should make each of us guard the health and life of ourselves and our families, forms an effec- tive argument in favor of the extermina- tion of the fly pest.
 For the fly plague need not be enduring as visitation of Providence. It may be stamped out by the systematic adoption by individuals and by the public of the method of cleanliness. The fly is born in, lives and thrives upon filth. If no filth is allowed to accumulate in a house CT its neighborhood, it will not be troubled by flies, for they do not ordinarily stray | far from their breeding places and their sources of food. In a thoroughly clean neighborhod they cannot live in the face of screens preventing their access to food, and in the absence of manure heaps and other receptacles for filth in which to de- posit their eggs.
 The investigation by Dr. Jackson into the relations existing between flies and sewerage. led to the formation of spe- cial committee of the American Civic as- sociation to urge the extermination of the fly This committee, besides publishing literature the subject, arranged for the manufacture of the moving picture film entitled, "The Fly Pest" which has been shown in hundreds of moving pie ture halls. Lantern slides illustrating the same subject as the film are loaned to responsible persons who make application to the committee. A travelling exhibit consisting of photographs and placards, warning against the fly pest, Is also to be had by local organizations. The fly fighting committee offers substantial cash prize for essays on "The House Fly as a Carrier of Disease" written by children of the primary and grammar school classes. Application to be included in the list of cities in which these con- tests are to be carried on may be made to Edward Hatch, Jr., No. 156 Fifth avenue, New York city. A white list" of hotels against the fly pest is also to be prepared, and information in regard to 1t may be had by writing the chairman of the com- mfttee at the same address.
 The methods of ridding a neighborhood of flies are comparatively simple, or would be to fly-flghter with despotic power over a community, for to insure the success of this work cooperation is absolutely essential A carelessly con ducted stable may nullify the conscien- tious efforts of a whole neighborhood of fly-fighters. While the creation of a spirit which shall bring home to each house. holder his responsibility for maintaining sanitary conditions on his premises is necessary, the health officer is the most effective single agent for carrying out this reform for it is his duty to enforce against all such ordinances as public opin- ion is strong enough to have enacted
 The replacing of the horse by the auto mobile makes the city street less inviting to flies and as they do not ordinarily fly higher than eight feet, our skyscrapers are largely free from them, but the mere advance of invention will not rid us of the plague. Individual care to keep one S house free from filth so that they shall have no breeding places in or immedi- ately about it, is unavailng unless the same pains are taken by ones neghbors It is necessary to enact ordinances, as has been done quite generally by cities In Indiana, Kansas and California. which all can be made to observe, so that the careful shall not have to suffer from the sins of their short-sighter neghbors