Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-12
BURDETTE HAS LEAD
Turns in $4,000 Flies for a
Single Days Score.
HAS BROKEN THE RECORD
Fitzgerald Second in the August
Swatting Contest.
PHYSICIANS SHOW INTEREST
Improvement Of City's Health Con-
ditions Regarded as Due to Kill
ing of Germ Carriers.

As q result of delivering 236. 500 flies.
which is the largest single days score
to the credit of any one contestant this
month, Layton H. Burdette. the Indus
| trial Home School youth, who has estab-
| lished a national reputation as a fly
| ''swatter." today took the lead in The
Stars August fy-swatting contest.
Lawrence Fitzgerald. who, until today.
possessed the highest score. goes into
second place. The records of the five
leading contestants are: Layton H. Bur-
dette. 10000 flies destroyed; Lawrence
Fitzgerald. 1880: William Steiner. 27s.-
COO; Frank Funk, go 800. and Annie LIS
ton, "a, 400. making the total slaughter for
the month to date, 1888, 600.
DR.. Murray, supervisor of the cam
paign, has received a note from Lillian
Portion, one Of last months prize win
| ners, who Is in New Jersey on a vaca-
ton. to the effect that she intends re-
turning to Washington and to re-enter
the fly war. Annie Liston. another of
| the contestants last month to win a
prize. spent a brief vacation at Colonial
Beach. and is now back and among the
active participants In the August crusade.
Interest Taken by Physicians.
| Not since the Inauguration Of Washing
| toms war on flies, a year ago, have
physicians Of the city taken so much in
terest in this movement directed toward
the Improvement of the citys health con-
ditions as they are taking today. Pri-
| marily this is due to the fact that sta
| tistics compiled by DIR. Murray of the
health department of the District show
that there have been fewer cases Of ty-
phoid fever and summer complaint
| among infants under two years of age
| in Washington this summer than in
years. The reduced number of flies is be-
lieved to be responsible for this improved
showing.
| 1t is pointed out that flies are a COM
mon source Of the origin of typhoid fever
! and summer complaint and that had a
reduction been brought about in the num-
Der of cases of one of the maladies with
out a corresponding reduction being re-
corded In the other there might be doubt
as to whether the smaller fly population
was responsible. But, I'm view Of the fact
that both diseases have received severe
settacks. 1t is urged, IL Is fair suppose
ton that the destruction of millions OF
| flies and trillions of germs carried by
| them has led to this improved showing
| in the city's health
Effect on Tuberculosis Unknown.
Health department officials are inter-
l
lie health Improvement which may be
influenced by the fly war. This is with
respect to the development of tuberculo-
sis. Generally 1t is believed that the fly
can convey tubercle bacilli on it's feet and
wings, and that it feasts upon tuber-
culous sputum with the greatest avidity
Several months will be required yet be-
fore tuberculosis cases, now in process OF
| developing. can be brought to the atten
| ton of the health department so thai
comparative statistics can be prepared
| which will indicate whether the slaughter
| Of millions Of flies this summer has had
any effect in checking the development
| OF this disease.
| 1t is believed that by next spring the
value of Washngton's fly war from a
health viewpoint will have been so def
nfteiy established that cities and munich
palities everywhere will undertake cam
| paigns of q similar nature.
| Women With Young Children Need
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