Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-23
|BEG|N FLY WAR NOW
: Early Campaign Productive of
!. Best Results.
sDR. A. [. MURRAY'S VIEW
!. Chart Being Prepared Showing Ad-
vantage of Immediate Work.
{
!. ATTITUDE OF HEALTH OFFICE
Method of Handling Problem Sim
{ liar to That Employed Against
: Infectious Diseases.
DIR. A. L. MURRAY'S VIEW
ATTITUDE OF HEALTH OFFICE

: Preparations looking toward the COM
Tmencement of an early warfare on the
lily have been commenced in the health
4office of the Distct. Dr. Arthur L. Muir
iray of the department. who last sum-
s.mer supervised The Stars swat the
bly, campaign, is preparing chart
(which shows the advantage of destroy
Ling the insects as fast as they make
,,their appearance in the spring. Copies
fof the chart are to be supplied to
Z teachers of local public schools who
Tappy for them.
y Dr. Murray's diagram shows the estl-
Imated number of descendants from one
f,female fly during a single season to be
ysOoO.OoO.OOO. On account of the enor-
.s.mous rate at which the fly family in
fcreases as the season progresses, health
iofficials and government experts. who
!'have given a great deal of study to the
.-subject, claim that one fly killed early
lin the spring has more effect in reduc-
hing the size of the seasons ultimate fly
population and acDmplishes more good
GENERALLY than does the killing of thou
fsands of insects later.
+ Health Office Attitude.
Z. The attitude of the District health de-
apartment is that methods of handling the
lily problem should be similar to that of
.handlng epidemics of disease, to the ex-
itent at least of taking hold of 1t at the
toutset and giving it as little chance as
tpossibre to get a foothold. Flies would
scause less disease and would be less Of
Ia nuisance, assert officials of the health
department. if an active onslaught on
Them made when they make their
: Individual attention TO the individual
!fly. the sooner the better, is the motto
Recommended by the officials to Wash
.ingtonians who would rid the capital of
t.jts greatest nuisance in summer.
{ From the best authorities that 1 have
ibeen able to consult, said DR.. Murray
'topinion that, at the close of each summer
season, there exist certain members of
.the fly family, which, owing to special
vitality or fitness, are able to survive the
winter months in a more or less dor
-:Tnant state.
I Habit Of the Insect.
:, These survivors Of the fittest usually
Jselect for their period of Information
,tsome place. Of constant warmth, seventy
degrees being sufficient. With this factor
vital to their existence supplied, they pa
Itientiy' wait until the first balmy days
tsof spring, as it appears that in this
iguiescent or dormant state. food is an
unnecessary condition to their existence.
a When we consider the prodigiouS re-
productive powers of the fly we can
readily understand that not many men,
.,bers are required to- regenerate the entire
tribe within very short period of time.
s.rhe cycle Of development of fly viii.
occur from 10 to IA days, the warmer the
syseathfr the shorter the period of de-
Ireloprfient. 1t has been estimated that
Twelve generations of flies may occur in
,r~to IN. h
sally situated as Is Washington"
( New York Wants Information.
: DR.. Murray today received a request
from Frank Parker Stockbridge of New
York for information concerning the fly
campaign conducted last summer in
(which prizes were awarded by The Star
ITO the children who killed the greatest
Numbers of the insects. Mr.. Stockbridge
stated that he is preparing a handbook
Sn how to conduct anti-fy campaigns.
4 Requests for similar information have
sTeached DIR. Murray from all sections of
3he country. 1t is his belief that citizens
throughout the country will be more ac
Awe this summer in warning on the dis
'ease-carrying insect than ever before.
Civic Association Receives Inquiries.
:. Not only are inquiries pouring III on Dr.
Murray. but Richard B. Watrous, secre-
.tary of the American Civic Association, Is
beginning to receive letters from various
parts of the country, asking for sugges-
lions as to the best methods of procedure.
for literature and for suggestions as to
lectures. Mr.. Natrous, acting for the as
location. contributed literature to The
Stars campo ign.
y Yesterday Mr.. Watrous received a letter
from the Woman's Club of Toledo, Ohio.
stating that plans are being made to take
up campaign in that city in connection
With the schools. One Of the clubs, COM
posed of parents and teachers, will be
given an illustrated address the afternoon
T February IS, with slides sent from the
Sriices of the American Civic Association
IN this city.