The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-13
CITY HEALTH OFFICER TELLS HOW GERMS ARE THUS SPREAD AND HOW TO PRE- VENT IT-RABIES NEXT

Dr. R. M. Cunningham. city health of ficer, in the sixteenth of his series of health bulletins today. discusses ''insect-borne diseases" Next Sunday he will take up rabies and hydrophobia. The bulletin to- day follows
 INSECT-BORNE DISEASES.
 After the discovery of micro organism as the specific cause of many diseases, the mode of their communication from the diseased to the we'll is of next importance. A knowledge of the method of communi- cation is absolutely essential to- provide proper sanita ton. Insects as disease car riers is of modern discovery. Such an idea was impossible in the old days of 'miasms,' '.vapors. espirts." The more we learn of the transmission of disease. We find that actual things. animate and inanimate are the carriers. The air, even, is becoming of less and less inn portance as a means for spreading dis eases. The word .insect" in this paper is not interpreted strictly by entomolog- ical rule and law. Some small living things, as ticks and mites, are not strict ly speaking insects. put their habits and mode of living to all ntents and purposes make them identical with the classical insects so far as disease carriers are con. cerned.
 Insects may transmit disease in two ways: First mecha nically: second. biologically. -Roseneau. If they trans- init disease at once without period of incubation in the insect. and without play ing part in the life history of the germ, it is mechanical if, however, the germs undergo modification in the insect. as a part of their life cycle, 1t is biological Thus, when fly carries the germs of typhoid fever from dry closet to the lunch it is strictly mechanical, it is not even separated from it's associated filth; on the other hand, when mosquito bites a person with malaria the elements taken into its stomach undergo productive change, and, therefore, is biological
 THE HOSTS.
 The person who harbors the insect either inside or outside of his body is the host to the insect; the insect who harbors the disease germ either on the inside or out, is the host for the germ The first is illustrated by the guest who is taken into the home and helps him self to what ne wants; the latter by the tramp who accepts hand out as he can do no better. Both. however. are parasites, that is living things, who live at the expense of others. They Tabor not. neither do they spin," but the devil in all his meanness has no more faith ful servants.
 De June buy has de golden wing.
 De lghtin' bug de flame.
 De bedbug has no wing at all.
 But gets dar all de same"
 The last line of this little doggerel ap- plies to most insects
 MECHANICAL METHOD.
 This may be divided into two kinds, the contact and biting. An insect which car. ries the germs on it's head, wings legs etc. or which eats the filth containing the germ may come in contact with a person or deposit it's excrement on the person, or on or in something that the person eats or drinks or on the dust that may be breathed. and thus communicat to the disease. Or the insect may bite and thus inoculate with his bite, or make a little wound into which germs may get and set up the disease The insects get the germs from a person with the disease. from his discharges, or from something that has been in contact with the patient, or something that has been contaminated by the patient or his dis charge. Biting insects may directly in- oculate with germs in their mouths, from their bowels, or upon their bodies. Blood sucking insects may draw the infected blood from one person or animal and then bite another person and transmit the disease by kind of transfusion
 BIOLOGICAL METHOD.
 This is where the host participates in the development of the germs. That is in part bred in the insect and without this procreative change would not infect Ma laria is~a conspicuous example. These parasites are in part bred in the body of the insect. and belong. generally speak ing, to the animal kingdom
 In no case do the disease germs af- feet the insect-whethcr the germs are