Evening star., 1912-08-26
FEWER FEVER CASES
Result of the Cleanup Cru
Sade in Two Cities.
WASHINGTON AND DETROIT
Improved Health Conditions Follow
War on Disease Breeders.
CAMPAIGN OF FLY SWATTERS
Possibility That Total Of the Insects
Destroyed Will Reach
Twenty Millions.
AND DETROIT
CAMPAIGN OF FLY sWATTERS

A cleanup campaign and fly crusade
have been conducted in Detroit, Mich. this
summer. and, like The Stars campaigns
| In this city, are credited with having
brought about decided Improvement in
the health conditions of that city. Accord.
ing to the Detroit board Of health, few
er cases Of typhoid fever have been re-
| ported, which is believed to be the result
of fewer flies and an increased standard
OF sanitation.
Inc Detroit campaigns are similar to
those that have been conducted in Wash
ington. Not only has there been a reduc-
tion in the number Of typhoid fever cases
in the National Capital this summer. but
there has been falling off in the number
of summer complaint cases. another all
ment that is believed to be largely caused
by the activities Of flies.
Crusade Value DEMONSTRATED.
With two cities that have made war on
flies and filth showing an Improvement
In health conditions, the practicability OF
the attempt to wipe out the disease
spreaders and destroy their feeding
grounds should appear to have been es-
tablished. Other municipalities have en-
gagged In similar undertakings this sum-
mer and when these have been heard
from 1t is believed that little doubt will
be left that organized effort to destroy
the fly Is more than worth while.
In Detroit the common council author
lied an appropriation for the conduct OF
the anti-fly war. Posters were printed
and placed in conspicuous places about
the city. School children assisted in the
campaign.
The board Of health, assisted by citizens
of Detroit. waged an unusually effective
sanitary campaign. In one month 3O5
provide their premises with proper gar
bage receptacles, while large number
of warnings to citizens to clean UP yards,
sheds and other places where filth had
congregated were promulgated.
Pertinent Queries.
In order to emphasize the need Of de-
stroying flies, the board of health pub
lished "fy catechism'' which was given
wide circulation. The catechism is as
follows:
!. Where is the fly born? In filth.
2. Where does the fly live? In every
kind of filth.
}. Is anything toe filthy for the fly
to eat? No.
kitchen and dining-room. o. What does
he do there? He walks on the bread,
fruit and vegetables; he wipes his feet
on the butter and bathes in the butter
milk.
s. Does the fly visit the patient sick
cholera infantum? He does-and may
call on you next.
g. Is the fly dangerous? He Is mans
worst pest and more dangerous than
wild beasts or rattlesnakes.
Z. What diseases does the fly carry?
He carries typhoid fever. tuberculosis
and summer complaint. How? On bis
wings and hairy feet. What Is his corr
rect name? Typhoid fly.
g. Did he ever kill any one? He killed
more American soldiers in the Spanish
American war than the bullets of the
Spaniards.
0. Where are the greatest number of
cases Of typhoid fever, consumption and
most flies.
TO- Where are the most flies? Where
there is the most filth.
IL. Why should we kill the fly? Be-
cause he may kill us.
12. How shall we kill the fly? (a)
Destroy all the filth about the house
and yard; (b) kill the fly with wire
screen paddle. or sticky paper. or kerosene
oil.
Record for Washington.
BY the end of next month Washington,
it is expected, will possess the record OF
having conducted the most successful fly
war ever waged in any city. DR.. Murray.
supervisor of the campaign, estimates
that the total slaughter of flies produced
by contestants will amount to approx
mately thirty millions.
Contestants today entered on the last
stretch of the August crusade. 1t is ex-
pected that the slaughter for this month
will be approximately seven million.
Next month will be busy one for DR.
Murray as, in addition to conducting the
fly war and discharging his duties as an
official of the District health department
he has been designated by the American
Public Health Association to represent |,
at the sessions of the International Con-
gress on Demography ind Hygiene to be
held in Washington in September.