The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-13
SCHOOL CHILDREN
JOIN IN FLY WAR
Pupils to Be Taught Ways OF
Preventing Summer
Nuisance.
SPREAD MANY DISEASES
DR.. Levy Suggests Flies as
Bearers OF Infection to
Infants.
SPREAD MANY DISEASES

In the war on flies being waged By
the State Board of Health, IA new ally
has been secured In the public schools
of Richmond. The health authorities
city and State are preparing pamph-
let clearly explaining the methods by
which the breeding places OF flies may
be TO great extent cradicated. Su-
perlntendent Of Schools j. 4. c.
Chandler has agreed 10 place copy
OF this pamphlet in the hands OF
every pupil and teacher in the Rich
mond schools, and the usual period
given In the schools to the study .os
hygiene and physiology will be de-
voted 10 Il full discussion OF the meth
DDS of destroying flies. The City
school Board, 1t IL stated. has long
desired to have in the schools prac-
tical Lessons on sanitation. ana this
VIII be one step In that direction.
Campaign of Education.
Superintendent Chandler said ycster-
day:
Many cities of tho country have
organized campaigns for the eXterrni-
nation OF the house fly, and IT is be-
licVcd that no better way can be used
TO educate the people in so important
a matter as the removal of all sources
from which tlies are bred than by the
education of tho children. 1t Is a
lamentable fact that most Of the books
on hygiene and public sanitation have
nothing to'suggest as TO the extermi-
nation OF the fly. Such an excellent
book as Jewctt's Town and City"
dealing with garbage. ashes. water
supply. sewerage. food inspection and
the prevention OF diseases, while IL
has o special article on mosquitoes,
and an excellent treatment on how
10 prevent the spreading of tuber-
culosis, says not word about how
To prevent the breeding OF files.
one OF the text books used In the
public schools. Primer Of Sanitation
has one paragraph OF twenty-t three
lines on removing breeding places OF
nics. The children have also had como
instruction az 10 the Kind OF bacteria
and germs that are carried by flies.
We believe that the campaign un-
dcrtaken by the State Board OF Health
ANA the city Board OF Health. rein
forced by the schools Will result in
Ercat good TO the city"
Effect on Infant Mortality.
In the annual report OF the Health
Department, Chief Health officer Levy
discusses the 0y nuisance at some
length. DR.. Levy holds that expert
Spanish American war have conclu-
sively proved that large amount OF
typhoid fever is carried by the ordi-
nary house fly. Especially IS this be-
licved to be true In Southern cities.
where the ~ breeding season Is much
longer than in the North. DIR. Levy
also suggests. though admitting that
The proof is not yet conclusive. that
an epidemic OF infantile diseases,
which occurred in Richmond last Sep
TENDER and October. was chiefiy.
spread by flies There were but three
deaths from this disease In August.
though later In the summer the NOR
tally was much higher. In the abb
hence OF conclusive proof 1t is re
Earded as significant that flies were
notably few in Richmond last sum-
mer until late in August, and We're
then very prevalent during September
and October, the period OF the largest
infant mortality.