Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-05-15

UOnS OF PUBIC HealLn, nave mdue
ceaseless effort to arouse the American people
concerning disease and death travelling in the
tracks of the common housefy, or typhoid fly"
as the United States government does not hesi-
tate to call 1t in its official printed documents.
Little by little the country has become
Quainted with the danger, and now entire COM
munities-hamlets villages, cities alike-are I'M
dertaking systematic and complete determination
of the insect. The fly has been recognized as
carrier of disease for many generations and
some authorities, like Jean Dawson, the Cleve-
land biologist, feel satisfied that 1t so recog-
nzed even In Bible times. But never before has
practically an entire great nation awakened to
the absolute necessity Of fighting the fly to the
death; of driving it out of existence.
Moreover, it was left for New York pathoo-
gist, DR.. Ferdinand M. Jeffreys Of the Polytechnic
Medical school and hospital to formulate a reply
to the old question, "Of what is the fy?"
According to DR., Jeffreys 1t has very important
use in acting a danger signal which cannot
be disregarded with impunity.
wherever you find the fly" he says you also
find 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, 1nfantile paray-
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 printing and distributing pamphlets
on the subject having lectures delivered before
audiences of children as we'll as of adults,
planning various methods Of poisoning, trapping,
and "swatting" flies. In many cities prizes OF
money have been offered for the largest number
of flies killed in a 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 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 Catechsm," in which 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 1t terms "the typhoid or house
fly"
virginia's 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 we'll
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 the subject, as well
concise list of Hints to Householders"
The Ohio state board of health has also been
busy in the matter and has reprinted large num-
bers Of DR.. c. o. Probsts practical paper, "The
Fly as a Disease Carrier"
Michigans state board has come out with
important quarterly document on The AntiFly
Crusade"
Pennsylvania devotes an entire issue of its
large Health Bulletin to essay easily under
stood which is called THE Common Fly: How
1t Develops, Why 1t Must Be Destroyed and
How to Destroy IT.
South Carolina Texas and almost all the other
states in the Union have been doing their utmost
to educate the public concerning the dangers Of
permitting flies to exist But with the exception
of single four-page circular the state of New
York has done nothing in the matter that has
been pressed vigorously by the country gen.
orally. This circular is brief document entitled
''The Filthy Fly" and is issued by the Publicity
and Education Department of the State Board of
Health
1t is said that by means Of a red powder scat
tared over piles of garbage and other filth flies