The chronicle=news., 1913-04-21
WARFARE ON THE
UBIQUITOUS FLY

NcN oOrk. Aprll .I.-Inc Mcut.
cal Record calls attention to u fact
that has been frequently referred
tn. the importance OF removing that
ubiquitous disscniinator OF disease
germs. the fly. from the household
In which II hus hibcrantcd. The ed
itor very properly makes the impor-
tant observation that Americans be-
Ing n people much moved by slogans
Swat the Fly is one that has excited
u vast deal Of Industry. with some
how not very apprcciabic diniuni.
tion In the number Of flies. With
n better understanding Of tho condi-
tIons the wiser slogan 'Stn,c the
Fly has suppisntcd tho other. -"
The New York Medical Journal
also makes somc pertinent comcnts
upon the. civic spring cleaning pro-
posed by the Commissioner Of Health
who proposes To enlist the co.opcra-
ti0n OF other departments and but
rcau, In the first city.wldc purga.
tion from unsanitsry sccumuiationa
cent lining over from winter hibcr-
nation. That newspapers are avail.
uable In their Influence and that
the public press gives generously Its
cOluihnx to such ends" IL correctly
observed. ''Iiow much better were
IT," says the editor. III they would
give more space to discas. prOpi,y-
iRxis and less 10 the pitiicss cxpioi.
tation Of u consumption serum the
efficiency Of which is absolutely pro-
lcniatical aud Of cancer cures which
l'canuOt cure any cancer" This liz
| true only Of some OF our mctrOpoli-
tan Journals.
On. need not proceed very FAR to
discover that the most prolific
source Of flies is nth. Every nook
and corner OF II closet or cellar must
be searched for the unclcauly accu-
fuiations Of the winter. adm after
their removal these nests for the hi
bernatinE fly must be treated to
thorough scrubbinS. disinfcction
and whitcwasliing Or painting on
the well known theory that light Is
inimical to terminating life. This.
active warfare should not be delayed
at once. since the first eggs are
deposited In April. In mn article.
"Chcrchez Ia Mouche.'' we have
pointed out that filth becds flies and
flies breed death. and that their
presence is living testimony to the
presence OF filth somewhere within
COO feet: that the fly !s more dan
'scrous thu In ga wild beast roaming
at large by reason OF its enormous
CO pscity fYin multiplication and 81
lent mischief. One puir Of flies may
produce several billions OF their
kind. Swatting these billions de-
comes unnecessary II the filth In
which they breed is removed now.
Now IL the appointed time" cries
thc religious cXhorter. and the sani-
tary exhortcr would rc-ccho the
warning. The most productive
breeding places are manure. garbage
cans and cuspidors. The Department
of Agriculture sends to any ono re-
Qucsting IL all detailed Information
on tch subject.
The City Health Commissioner to
whom DIR. william II. Hale's suggcs-
tion OF flylcss city was referred
by tho mayor, will doubtless Issue
instruction also. Civic associations.
especially womem's clubs, may fur
ther this propaganda, school teach
crs would do well to give practical
and intcllIgiblc talks on the life aud
death Of this pcstiferous houseohld
cOnpanion. Only the zoophilcs may
object: one New York animal lover
1 is SO adverse to cruelty that hc turns
the flies he gently catches out into
the air to prey upon his neighbor.
In the churches sermons on the nat
ural history Of the fly and the most
I effective methods OF destroying II
would be important contributions
ITO the anti-tuberculosis campaign.
l.