New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
An Interesting Account of
This Very Ancient and
Dishonorable Pest.

Time was--and recent time. too. when q
fly was Just a fly and a mosquito was
just q mosquito and a 1ea was just a
flea and tse-tse-ny was Just \ saud-hy
Al of them were nuisanccS. TO lie sure,
obviously designed for the Christening of
man; but they were simply that and moth
ing more. But now they arc proved Grim
inals. destined to pay the penalty for muir
der by typhoid. malaria and yellow fever.
the bubOnic plague and the "=lecpii :
sickness
And now the finger scientific points
again. and science whispers Beware
And this time 1t goes back to the worlds
very beginning and dooms the oldest don
isen OF bugdom the cockroaCh
c. Conyers Morrtll. L. r. G. S, a Brit
ish Psychologist. has recently completed
a series OF careful experiments with this
bane OF the housekeeper and the sailor
The experiments were conducted on one
of the Union-Castle Line steamships sail
ing TO Cape Colony; the experimenter was
careful to use only insects that had been
taken from the larder and galeys; cult
ures were made and the whole long
process was in accordance with the strict
est scientific method. So the result is not
TO be questioned from a scientific point
of view. And the following are his con-
illusions:
The common cockroach is able by con-
tamination TO sour milk. infest food and
milk with intestinal bacilr, TO transmit
the tubercle bacillus. TO disseminate
ipethogenic staphylococci II is very inn
pCrtant factor in the distribution OF de-
structive moulds to food and TO numerous
other articles especially where they are
kept in dark cupboards and cellars; II is
increasing rapidly in distribution and
number, and is likely to become in course
OF time very dangerous pest
In the plain language of the layman, the
cockroach of our homes. bakeries, stores
and shipping can and does play a large
part In the dissemination Of tuberculosis.
intestinal diseases and other disorders
not Yet specified.
Fossil remains of the cockroach are
ebundantly in evidence in the early coal
formations. fact which means that this
insect was firmly established ages before
the appearance of the more common forms
of the insect life Of to-day This, however,
tatively represented as a serious menace.
although the Agricultural Department Is
not without its hostile bulletins. And the
cockroach is a serious menace; It is, in
fact, a menace so serious that many of
the details concerning it's habits are too
repulsive for appearance In print. And
when it is considered. In connection with
these habits. that the insect not only
makes free with our food and all our
belongings. but will actually attack us
whenever opportunity offers, the warning
of the British scientist is TO be regarded
as only the first step upon the trail
One Thousand Kinds Of Cockroach.
There are more than a thousand species
OF cockroach. But the only species with
which humanity at large need concern
itself at present is the one known as
Periplaneta Orlentalis or Oriental cock
roach. This is the large black mot really
black. although so appearing until seen
in the light, when it proves to be reddish
brown roach of unspeakable odor, which
persistently clings to the habitat of man.
1t warily conceals itself during the day
time and proNls and destroys by night
An Asiatic importation.
The name itself tells story of cum
ming, Of sagacity, and Of tenacity OF pur-
pose almost unbelievable when 1t is re-
membered that only creeping thing is
concerned. For it tells US that this un-
happily common scavenger of our htch-
ems. cellars etc. is far from the birth
place of its species that II is not a ma
tive OF this country or even OF Europe,
but is an import from tropical Asia.
We have lately imported certain insects
in the interest Of agriculture, notably in
connection with the boil weevil but, to
our credit be II said We did not know
ingly import this one. 1t imported itself
coming In with characteristic stealth. as
a stowaway among the cargoes. When
the Asiatic cockroach first set its de-
filing feet upon American soil is a ques-
ton for the future To answer II 1t can be
answered. According TO the scant liter
allure upon the subject, however, the
oJst invasion of Britain must have oc-
CURED about three centuries ago. This
roach then makes its initial appearance In
geological literature, with references to its
presence In English -four mills and wine
cellars. particularly those Of London and
seaport towns.
II Is Degenerate.
And a most undesirable alien 1T is; for
this cockroach Is, in its ensemble, one Of
the most uncanny. weird interesting and
at the same time disgusting, products Of
creation. II has been called. popularity
and in some cases entomologically, a
black beetle" Now this is not only an
insult to the self-reSpectng beetle. but il
is an error as well For this cockroac oh
belongs, entomologically speaking, 10 the
family blattida of the order orthoptera,
and this group is entirely distinct from
that of coeoptera, to which the true
beetle belongs. 1t is widely removed from
the true beetle. not only in the nature Of
the changes which IL undergoes during
the process of development. but in its
final structural characteristics. one Of
the latter alone forms decisive dividing
line: The female of the Orientalis has 10
wings In the opinion of the writer, the
particular brand of cockroach treated of
in this article is without order or class
because il is without kind. It is de
generate" for ii possesses the uncanny
characteristics and habits that distin-
gulsb the viciously abnormal, the outcast
rom class
The Anatomy.
This cockroach is endowed with bit