Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-14
CUT OFF EP|DEM|CS
Aid of Fly Carnage to Health
of District Is Cited.
GERMS KEPT FROM FOOD
Debt of Gratitude Due Swatters, Says
DR.. A. 1. Murray.
PUPILS EXPECTED TO ENTER
Ranks of Campaigners in Star Con-
test to Be Augmented After
Schools Are Closed.
GERMS KEPT FROM FOOD
PUPILS EXPECTED TO ENTER

That the destruction of more than a
million flies to date in The Stars June
campaign against the insects can with
certainty be regarded as having prevented
the development of great deal of sick
ness in the District, and possibly fatal
tiles in some instances where the disease
had assumed virulent form, is the opinion
of officials of the health office of the
District Of Columbia.
This belief is based on the fact that
three-fourths of the insects destroyed
were killed in the vicinities of the prin-
cipal markets and provision centers of
the capital. Had the flies been left un-
moIested it is almost certain that all of
Them at some time other. would have
come in contact with food that is con-
sumed by residents of the city.
What per cent of the insects destroyed
would have carried tuberculosis or
typhoid bacilli and deposited these germs
on the food is a matter that naturally
cannot be determined. But health
authorities say 1t is certain that many
OF the pests would have been laden with
germs, an dthat undoubtedly in many
instances the bacilli would have reached
the bodies of human beings and developed
diseases such as typhoid fever and tuber-
culosis.
Fear of the development of disease
through outward contact with germs car
ried by flies is not entertained by health
officials 1T is only when the germs have
been deposited on food and the food has
been consumed by persons that the neces-
for ftoyinp the fy agent
of disease is recognized
There is no way to estimate the bene-
fetal resul>s of the anti-fy campaign
waged in Washington. except that we
know the benefits, from a health stand
point. have been very great. said DR..
Arthur l.. Murray. supervisor of the cam
pain, today.
Billions of Germs Killed.
1.-The records of the June campaign
show that fully three-fourths of the mil
lion flies destroyed were exterminated in
or about markets and groceries. Think
of the millions of germs that would be
carried by that many insects. 1t does
not follow that all of these germs were
harmful, but undoubtedly many of them
were-millions, / should say-and. by de-
stroying the flies that carried them. the
bacilli were prevented from reaching the
food that later was consumed by resi-
dents of Washington.
In the destruction of that three-auar>
ter OF a million flies whole epidemics of
typhoid fever may have been prevented"
continued the health expert. This
shows the possibilities of ant-fiy cam
paigns. Residents of Washington owe
debt of gratitude TO the youth of the city
who are participating in the campaign
that they will never be able to pay. AS
q result OF what the crusades against the
ny so far have accomplished / expect
the health conditions prevailing locally
this summer to be more satisfactory than
ever before in the history of the capital"
Lawrence Fitzgerald yesterday turned
in IL. 500 flies at the campaign headquar-
tiers in the Municipal building. which
brings his showing for the campaign to
845.O0o. There Is little doubt that
Fitzgerald, who is second highest contest
ant. will pass the half-million mark
during the present months activities.
Layton III. Burdette. the leader. already
has killed more than half million of the
insects. Indications are that the total