Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-16
FORTY DEATHS HERE
 DURING MONTH OF APRIL
Average was About That of the State Few Infectious Cases Reported.

In Norwich during the month of April there were 40 deaths. New Lon don had 20 Groton II, Killingly 9, Plainfield 6. Putnam II, Stafford g., Stonington 19, Windham 19 The death rate here was 159 and five of the deaths were children under five There were 6S births and four still births and 10 marriages in March. In the local pub lie institutions there were four deaths in April,
 By mortality reports received by the state board of health there were AIT deaths during the month of April. This was 251 less than in March and 239 less than in April of last year. and 66 less than the average number of deaths during April for the five years preceding.
 The death rate was 15.2 for the large towns, for the small towns IA, anG for the whole state 15
 The deaths reported from infectious diseases were no, being 14.S per cent. of the total lortality
 There we very few cases of in lection diseases during the month in this city reported to the health officer. There were six cases of diphtheria and one of consumption
 Dr. J. H. Townsend, secretary of the state board of health, has this 10 say on the housefly:
 The approach of fly time and the knowledge that the common housefy plays no obscure part in the spread of certain infectious diseases, the most important of which are typhoid fever and tuberculosis, arouses our interest in him as to where he comes from, what he does. and how we may get rid of him.
 Dr. L. o. Howard of the T. s. de- partment of agriculture. who has de- voted much time to the study of the subject, states that ninety per cent of the flies found in cities come from horse manure, their fayorite breeding place, but will also breed in the ex- creta of almost any animal, as well as in fermenting organic matter The heat generated from the decompoSi tion of horse manure makes it a good incubator Hare the female lays about one hundred and twenty eggs, which in eight hours time are matched. In ten days time they become adult files, passing through as many as eight or nine generations in a season. As carriers of contagion it is their habit to swarm over fecaI matter and other filth, and then feed upon our table, depositing perhaps thereon the germ of typhoid fever, dysentery etc.
 These facts call for better sanita- tion than exists at the present time. The important step is the removal of breeding places; prevent flies from gaining access to horse manure, priv ies and garbage. Manure should be put under cover promptly and kept there until removed for fertilizing, when it should be at once worked in to the soil. The next step Is to ex- clude flies from human excrement. The outhouse. if it cannot be abolished should be constructed with a tight vault kept dark and screened, while the contents should be frequently cov- cred with unsldcked lime or loam.
 The disposal of garbage should re- ceive careful attention. Houses should be screened to keep out the flies, and when we buy our food we should pat ronize the stores that try to be clean, and should make an effort to compel filthy sellers of foodstuffs to protect their wares from fly contamination. This department is publishing a spe- clal fly fighting bulletin, prepared by pr. Britton, the state entomologist. This will be furnished any one on ap- plication, and health officers can se- cure 1t in quantities for distribution.