Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
Washington Had 1903 Fewer
Cases in Summer of 1914
Than in Preceding Year.
EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE
GREAT FACTOR IN BATTLE
DR.. Murray Points Out That Greater
Results May Be Obtained by
Activity Now.

That Washington's anti-f1y campaigns
have been immensely practical. resulting
in reduced number of flies and re-
duced amount of typhoid fever, is shown
by an investigation just concluded by DR..
Arthur l.. Murray. formerly of the Dis
trict health department and now director
of Washington's Health and Happiness
League.
Briefly stated, the investigation has dis
closed that in June, July, August and
September there were 179 cases of ty-
phoid fever, as compared with 2S2 during
the corresponding period year ago.
while a canvass of more than half the
homes of the city developed the conclu-
sion that the city's fly population last
summer was the smallest on record.
The Health and Happiness League.
the Washington branch of large in
surance company. has been asked by
DIR. Murray to take up arms against the
fly. Some months ago the company, at
it's policy-holders 10000 copies of in
structive circulars concerning the fly.
Made Reports on Flies.
With view to ascertaining what. If
any. was the result of the distribution
of this literature. each agent was in
structed to report on the number of flies
noted in the homes of policy holders
during the past summer as compared
with previous years.
When the reports were compiled yes
terday 1t was ascertained that in not a
single instance were flies found to have
been more numerous. Eleven agents
reported that no difference was noted
by them in the fly population. The re-
ports OF seventy-nine agents showed
that In the homes they visited flies were
found to be less numerous.
IN view OF the fact that these reports
cover more than half the homes in the
city. the effect of the distribution of
educational literature in the control OF
the ny nuisance can readily be seen
and its value can scarcely be over
estimated. DR.. Murray points out
me former District official believes
that the improved typhoid situation is
directly the result of the reduced fly
population. Statistics compiled for the
four typhoid months. June. July, Au-
gust and September. show that in 1916
there were $50 cases of the disease In
1911. the year Washington experienced
its first anti-f1y campaign. inaugurated
by The Star, there were only 264 cases
of typhoid. The number increased in
1912 to 264 and In 1913 to 2S2, but this
year fell off 103 cases.
Get Increased Attention.
Washingtonians have constantly
since 1911. given increased attention ia
the fly problem. and such widespread
and effective methods for extermina-
ton of the pest were employed last
year that a reduced number of the in
sects survived the winter to bring on
this seasons population.
With fewer of the disease spreaders
in existence than at this time year
ago. residents of the capital are afford
ed another big opportunity to strike a
telling blow against them before they
seek winter quarters.
DR.. Murray and all authorities on the
fly agree that the autumn is the best
time to combat the insect 1t is be-
lieved that a wholesale war of exter-
mination waged during the next few
weeks will lay the foundation for
Washington's enjoying next year ex-
tensive abatement of the fly nuisance
and better health conditions than it has
r.