The Washington herald., 1913-08-10
HEALTH OFFICER
DISCUSSES BATS
DR.. Woodward Willing to Tell
What He Knows, but Is
Not a Bat Student.
SETTLES" BUG THEORY
Says that Animals Do HsrSor Verui,
on Bodies and May Chase
Mosquitoes.
Hello! Is this DR.. Woodward Sc

| 'Helloi Is this Dr. woodward--
Inc hsalth officer admitted his identity.
The reporter confessed his. These nra.
! hminaries over, DIR. Woodward INQUIRED
what was wanted
! Doctor. l wish you would tell M.
something about bats
! Human. or otherwise%' DR.. Wood
ward asked difiidently.
| Otherwise
Well, what is it that you want to
know about bats%'
oh' everything in general Just some
thlns about the PSYCHOLOGY, physioIog,-
morphology. general history. noI;,,esi
economy. and politics of bats SOM.
wnere' somebody has said-and IL was
printed. doctor-that bats have a pav
haolt OF chasing mosquitoes into peo-
PIES dwellings at night. VIII you CON-
( firm this
Ut. woodward is kindly Although he
mas learned from a long and bitter sy-
pertence that newspaper men can nro-
pound out Of the depths of themseIyes-
without apparent of undue axsr,ion-
questions which the gods Themselves
can't answer. he still gives them cour-
teous attention
Fnvors' Mosquito Theory.
Be the questions sense or nonsense g.,
their nature. the health officer remain,
successful master of himself, patient and
ioIpeSrlnS. This is more than can BE-
sald Tor many public officials of thu
dukedom of the District.
II sounds like plausible theory" sad
tne doctor in answer to the above oues-
ton. isis IL yours?''
he was informed that it was,not a tb.
oE! OF the reporters. but that some other
Nr6 r6aN- IL.
ctner reporter-or. at least. had given hir,
GOOD and sufficient resason for smucpIiu,
pe same into print in an interview. He
men consented to admit that IL might
oe one or the pleasant cvustoms OF a
pat-human or otherwise-to chase mos
oultoes into other peoples homes AZ
Heht Further. he said, he could no, ca,
can't you tell me something about tn.
histology, geography. and local color of
bats, doctor?'
I am glad" the doctor prefaced W,
remarks. ito do all in my power 10 ali.
the newspapers in their efforts TO in
form the general public on all subiects
from one-celled, sructureless Chroococ-
caci to triblobites and mastodons- hut
the helds of research connected with
these several subjects are broad and NE
Is snort and nlled with many duties.
Not Numerous Here.
Now, as to the political economy cf
hats' ne continued kindly. 7 nave never
Followed this peculiar study. There ,,.:y
De experts upon it. Doubtless YOU know
"f some? Perhaps, YOU have heard some
Shere also. something about the politics
OF bats? Probably. further, you have iu-
formation Of a science of the psvcholo.yz
of bats? i. however. am not versed in
these things. Eor-andI am scrry-in the
general history. biography. geometry or
ethics of bats"
The doctor paused.
But to be serious" he continuously.
nad seemed serious all along-'I can tell
You that bats do carry various kinds cf
Nermin on their bodies. There are h,.v-
ever, relatively SO few bats in Wash
ington, that, even IL they are possessed
with special prediction for flying into
peoples windows after mosquitoes ut
night. they will never become a meracs
mere. nor even a serious annoyance.
And, may add bats are comparativ.ly
harmless creatures"