The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-08
State Board of Health urges
People in All Counties to
Join in Fight on Fly.
DISEASE CARRIED BY INSECTS
State Board Lays Great Stress on Ne
cessity of Getting Rid of Flies at
This Time of the Year Gives Stats
tics of Fly Dangers.

The State Board of Health issues the
following warning regarding the dan
gers from flies:
Many people of Wisconsin, as well as
the local municipal authorities have
failed to heed the numerous warnings
that have been issued against house
flies.
1t is a known fact, and many times
attention has been called to this, that
flies are one of the most dangerous
menaces to life and health with which
mankind has to contend. 1t is respon-
sible for a large proportion of all cases
of typhoid fever, diarrheal diseases of
infants, many cases Of tuberculosis, and
in fact practically every infectious and
contagious disease can be and is trans
mitted either by the common barn fly
or house fly.
Yellow fever is transmitted by GER
tain species of mosquito. Destroy the
breeding place of these mosquitoes, and
yellow fever disappears. Another specie
of mosquito is directly responsible for
the transmission of malaria. Destroy
the breeding places of this specie of
mosquito and malaria disappears.
It has been demonstrated by Prof. M.
j. Roseneau of Harvard University,
and given to the public at meeting of
the Fifteenth International Congress of
and Demography at Washing
ton, Sept Goth, 1912, that he had sue
ceeded in transmitting anterior polio
myelitis, or more commonly known as
infantile paralysis, from monkeys sick
with this disease to well monkeys by
the bite of the common biting fly,
more generally known as the barn fly,
or stomoxys calcitrans.
In 1908, observations made by the
State Board of Health Of Wisconsin,
during the epidemic Of infantile paral-
ysis in this state, proved that undoubt-
edly the fly was factor in transmit
ting this disease.
The State Board Of Health Of Massa-
chusetts made similar observations and
later the transmission of this disease
in monkeys through the bite Of flies has
been definitely proved.
Fly Development.
The female fly lays her eggs in filth,
one hundred and twenty in number. In
less than twenty-four hours, these eggs
become maggots. In six days these
maggots reach the pupa state, and five
days later are full-fedged flies begin
ming their work Of death. 1t is esti-
mated that the progeny of single pair
in one season is one sextillion (1,000,-
100000, 100000, OO,oOo).
STATISTICS.
Mr.. Hatch, head of the department of
American Civic Association devoted to
the work of exterminating the house
fly, says:
"The cost of the house fly to the
United States annually in money is
$350,000,0o0 and 17o,o0O,O00 years of
human life, or four million lives of the
present average length. Another item
of interest is the ten million dollars
($10,000,O00) spent every year for
screens. The tax, taken altogether, is
pretty heavy when the means of relief
is so easy to be had.o
Wisconsin is contributing its share
of deaths as a result Of neglect in de-
stroying the fly which is such fearful
agency in the transmission Of disease.
A vigorous warfare for the extermin-
alton of the house fly should be in
augurated in every town, village and
city of the state. Clubs should be or
ganized to carry out this work and
every local health department should
insist that every breeding place of the
fly should be properly taken care of.
This can be accomplished definitely and
effectively. It requires the removal Of
filth. Flies breed in filth and in filth
alone. Without filth there are no flies.
Ninety per cent of the flies are bred
in stable manure, the balance in gar
bage, outhouses and other forms of
refuse.
The fly season is at hand. Prompt
action at this time and continued, will
prevent much sickness and many deaths
during the summer and fall. Health of
ficers and citizens, therefore, should
appreciate the grave responsibility upon
them. An immediate and thorough
cleansing of all premises should be eff
feeted. Any accumulation of filth must
be avoided.
Stable manure should be kept in
vaults or boxes screened or covered, or
frequently sprinkled with lime or kero-
sene, and should be, removed at least
once a week.
Garbage receptacles should be used