Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-10
CIvILIzATION-WIDE WARFARE
Kill Flies and Remove the Filth in
Which They Breed.
From the New York Sun.


The Medical Record calls attention to
fact that has been frequently referred to
IN the Sun. the Importance of removing
that ubiquitous dissemination of disease
germs the fly from the household in
which it has hibernated. The editor very
properly makes the important observation
that Americans being a people much
moved by slogans, Swat the Fly.is one
that has excited vast deal of industry,
with somehow not very appreciable
diminution in the number of flies. With
q better understanding of the conditions
the wiser slogan 'Starve the Fly has sup
planted the other
The New York Medical Journal also
makes some pertinent comments upon
the civic spring cleaning proposed by the
commissioner of health. who proposes to
enlist the cooperation of other depart
ments and bureaus in the first city-wide
purgation from insanitary Accommodations
remaining over from winter Information
That newspapers are invaluable in their
influence and that the public press gives
generously its columns to such ends" is
correctly observed. How much better
were IT, says the editor, ''if they would
give more space to disease prOphylaxis
and less to the pitiless exploitation of
consumption serum the efficacy of which
is absolutely problematical, and of can
Ger cures which cannot cure any can
GER. This is true only Of some of our
metropolitan journals.
The Sun has repeatedly urged anti
ny campaigns. One need not proceed very
far to discover that the most prolific
source of flies is filth Ever nook and
corner of a closet or cellar must be
searched for the uncleanly accumula-
tions of the winter. and after their re-
moyal these nests for the ALTERNATING
fly must be treated to thorough scrub
bling, disinfection and embarrassing or
painting on the we'll known theory that
light Is fnimical to terminating life. This
active warfare should not be delayed The
alternating fly must be destroyed before
April, since the first eggs are deposited
in that month. In an article "Cherchez
la Mouche' We have pointed out that filth
breeds flies and flies breed DEATH and
that their presence is living testimony to
the presence of filth somewhere within
COO feet; that the fly Is more dangerous
than a wild beast roaming at large by
reason OF its enormous capacity for multi
plicatiOn and silent mischief. One pair
OF flies may produce several billions of
their kind Swattine these billions be-
comes unnecessary IL the filth in which
they breed is removed now. Now is the
appointed time cries the religious ex-
horter. and the sanitary exhorter would
re-echo the warning. The most pro-
ductive breeding places are manure, gar
bage cans and cuspidors. To know these
enemies is to conquer them. The Depart
ment of Agriculture sends to any one
requesting 1t all detailed information on
the subject
The city health commissioner to whom
DIR. William IL Hales suggestion of a
fyless city was referred by the mayor,
will doubtless issue instruction also.
Civic associations. especially women's
clubs. may further this propaganda;
school teachers would do We'll to give
practical and ineligible talks on the
life and death of this pestiferous house
hold companion. Only the zoophiles may
object: one New York animal lover is so
averse to cruelty that he turns the flies
he gently catches out into the air to
prey upon his neighbor. In the churches
sermons on the natural history of the
fly and the most effective methods of de-
stroying it would be important contribu-
tons to the anti-tuberculoss campaign.