Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
THE greatest anti-f1y crusade that
the world has known is now get


the world has known is now get
ting under way in a multitude Of
American cities and smaller communi-
ties. reaching from Seattle and San Fran
cisco to Boston. Washington is by no
means alone in the war she is waging
upon the pests.
Not merely typhoid. but other highly
dangerous intestinal diseases are now
known to be spread by flies. and germs
of tuberculosis. cholera infantum. spinal
meningitis. infantile paralysis. are like
wise carried far and wide by the same
little pests. State boards of health. coun-
ty commissions, municipal health depart
ments. private organizations of men and
women in all stations Of life are printing
and distributing pamphlets on the sub
ject. having lectures delivered before au-
diences of children as well as of adults,
explaining various methods OF poisoning,
trapping and "swatting'' flies. In many
cities prizes of money have been offered
for the largest number of flies killed in
q given period. In other cities and towns
prizes are offered for the best essays
written by school children as to the dan
gers of flies and how to get rid of them.
The Michigan board of health is dis
tributing large quantities of a large
brown placard telling how to make war
on the pest, and starting off with the
title in large. black type, Files Poison
Food"
North Dakota has issued two important
health department bulletins. spread
broadcast throughout the state, one en-
titled ely Habits and the other "A Fly
simple language questions concerning
flies which the youngest child may un-
derstand.
The United States government. through
its farmers bulletin No. 4l2, makes
out complete case against what it
terms 1.-The typhoid or house fly.
Virginia's state board of health has is
sued at least three bulletins and circulars
devoted wholly or in Part to the subject.
In addition to quarterly publications.
one we'll illustrated, Iowa issues shorter
folders telling just how to deal with the
fly nuisance.
The Chicago board of health. through
its school Of sanitary instruction, pub
fishes and distributes articles and car
toons on the subject. as well as con-
else list Of Hints to Householders.'
The Ohio state board of health has
also been busy in the matter and has re-
printed large numbers of DIR. {. o.
Probsts practical paper, THE Fly as a
Disease Carrier
Michsgan's state board has come out
with s.,r an i'm important quarterly document
Pennsylvania devotes an entire issue of
its large health bulletin to an essay
easily understood, which is called The
Common Fly: How 1t Develops, Why 1t
Must Be Destroyed and How to De-
stroy It.
Even a town the size of Urbana. ILL.,.
now puts out a pamphlet. THE Danger
From House Flies and How to Control
It. while the Normal School of Cleve-
land. Ohio, has published and is circulat-
ing in heavy quantities one of the finest
and most effective articles which have
thus far appeared. In addition to the
lectures and prizes and printed matter.
many localities provide cartoons. which
inform the people who cannot read of
methods to rid their homes of flies. In
particular may be mentioned a colored
poster and printed circulars sent out by
the Indiana state board of health. all of
which were quickly exhausted. The de-
mand for them was SO great that a new
supply is now on the press. Indianas
state board of health, furthermore, has
kept local newspapers all over the COM
monwealth supplied with brief articles.
paragraphs and squibs quickly read and
easily remembered, dealing with the SUBJ
ject.
South Carolina, Texas and almost all
the other states In the Union have been
doing their utmost to educate the public
concerning the dangers Of permitting flies
to exist But with the exception or
single four-page circular. the state of
New York has done nothing in the matter
that has been pressed SO vigorously by
the country generally. This circular Is a
brief document entitled. "The Filthy
Fly" and is issued by the publicity and