The Southern herald., 1913-06-06

G7T0 he greatest anti-fy crusade that
i !. ! !. I . !. . !.
I|ET&l the world has known is now get
III II ting under way in a multitude Of
II{ II American cities and smaller COM
III munities, reaching from Seattle
IIi and San Francisco to Boston
| During recent years physicians,
III psychologists, sanitary engineers,
and others concerned with Ques
- tons Of public health have made
ceaseless effort to arouse the American people
concerning disease and death travelling in the
tracks Of the common housefy, or typhoid hy"
as the United States government does not hesi.
tate 10 call 1t in its official printed documents
Little by little the country has become &C.
qualnted with the danger, and now entire com.
muhlues-hamlets, villages, cities alike-are un.
uerIaKlng systematic and complete determination
OF the insect The fly has been recognized as a
carrier of disease for many generations. and
some authorities, like Jean Dawson the Cleve-
land biologist feel satisfied that it was so recog.
nlzed even In Bible times. But never before has
practically an entire great nation awakened to
tne absolute necessity of fighting the fly to the
death; OF driving it out of existence
Moreover 1t was left for a New York patbolo-
gist DR.. Ferdinand NJ Jeffreys of the PolyclinIc
Medical school and hospital. to formulate a reply
TO the old question "Of what use is the hy?"
According to DR.. Jeffreys it has very important
use In acting as danger signal which cannot
be disregarded with impunity.
Wherever you find the fly" he says you also
lind filth. And where you find filth you find dis.
ease"
Not merely typhoid, but other highly danger.
Gus intestinal diseases are now known TO be
spread by flies, and germs of tuberculosis, chol.
era infantum, spinal meningitis, infantile paraly.
sis are likewise carried far and wide by the same
little pests State boards of health county com.
missions, municipal health departments, private
organizations Of men and women in all stations
OF life are printing and distributing pamphlets
on the subject having lectures delivered before
audiences Of children as we'll as Of adults ex.
planning various methods Of poisoning trapping
ana swatting flies In many cities prizes Of
money have been offered for the largest number
of flies killed in given period. In other cities
and towns prizes offered for the best essays
written by school children as to the dangers of
flies and how to get rid of them.
North Dakota has issued two important health
department bulletins spread broadcast through.
out the state one entitled Fly Habits" and the
other "A Fly Catechism," in which are answered
in simple language questions concerning flies
which the youngest child may understand
The United States government through its
Farmers Bulletin No, 412, makes out complete
case against what it terms the typhoid or house
hy"
Nirginias state board of health has issued at
least three bulletins and circulars devoted wholly
Or in part to the subject
In addition to quarterly publications, one well
Illustrated Iowa issues shorter folders telling
Just how to deal with the fly nuisance
The Chicago board Of health through its school
Of sanitary instruction publishes and distributes
articles and cartoons on the subject as well as a
concise list of Hints to Househoders"
The Ohio state board of health has also been
busy in the matter and has reprinted large num-
oers of Dr. C. o. Probsts practical paper. THE
Fly as a Disease Carrier"
Mchlgans state board has come out with an
important quarterly document on THE Anti-Fly
Crusade"
Pennsylvania devotes an entire issue of its
arge Health Bulletin to an essay easily under.
tood, which is called The Common Fly: How
I Develops, Why 1t Must Be DESTROYED. and
How to Destroy It."
South Carolina, Texas, and almost all the other
tates in the Union have been doing their utmost
o educate the public concerning the dangers of
ermitting flies to exist But with the execution
a single four-page circular the state of New
'ork has done nothing in the matter that has
cen pressed so vigorously by the country gen.
rally. This circular is brief document entitled
The Filthy Fly" and is issued by the Publicity
nd Education Department Of the State Board Of
Iealth
1t is said that by means Of red powder scat
rec ever piles Of garbage and other filth flies