The chronicle=news., 1914-07-27
Borax Will Preuent The
Typhoid Fly From Breeding

that all public health officials and
others In recommending borax treat
ment for killing fly eggs and mag
gOts In manure warn the public
against the injurious effects of large
amounts of borax on the growth OF
plants. urchasers Of manure pro-
duced in cities during the fly-breed-
ing season should insist that the
dealers from whom they purchase
give them a certified statement as to
whether or not the manure In the
particular car or lot involved in the
purchase has been treated with bor-
! AK
| In feeding to hogs garbage that
contains borax care is also recon-
mended. especially when the animals
are being fattened for market. Bor-
AK is not a very poisonous substance
and the feeding of garbage that con-
tains 1t to hogs. is not likely to be
a serious matter. On the other hand
borax in large quantities does pro-
duce gastrict disturbances and for
this reason q certain amount of care
is advisable.
stance in the case of stables Is to
sprinkle the borax or colemanite In
the quantities given above. by means
of a flour sitter or other fine sieve.
around the outer edges of the pile
OF horse manure. The manure should
then be sprinkled Immediately with
two or three gallons of water to
eight bushels of manure. 1t is essen
tial, however, to sprinkle little of
the borax on the manure as 1t is ad-
ded daily to the pile. instead of
waiting until a full pile is obtained,
because this will prevent the eggs
which the flies lay on fresh manure
from Matching. AS the fly maggots
congregate at the outer edge of the
manure pile, most Of the borax
should be sDrinkled there.
Borax costs 5 to cents per pound
in 1OO-pound lots in Washington.
and 1t is estimated that at this rate
Iit would cost only one cent per horse
yer day to prevent all breeding of
flies in city stables. If calcined
cclemanite is purchased in large
I:hipmerts. this cost should be con-
siderably less. At the same time. II
:hc borax used on the manure ,nly
time proportion stated. its value
for use in the garden or for sale to
farmers will not be lessened.
In view of this discovery. there
now seems, little excuse for any horse
owner or resident Of city allowing
typhoid flies to breed In his stable OF
garbage can.
1t is believed that this Information
will greatly help the health authorf-
ties in their campaign against the
typhoid fly. The health authorities
have long tried to prevent the greed
ing of flies in city stables through
the use Of iron sulphate as n larva-
eide. In the case Of iron sulphate,
however. large amount is required.
and other insectides such as paris
green or potassium cyanide, while
effective in killing the flies. are very
expensive or extremely, poisonous.
, Borax, which is used freely In most
households, and is readily available
in all parts of the country, has the
advantage Of being comparatively
nom poisonous and non-inflammable,
readily soluble in water and easily
to handle. 1t can be purchased at
retail for 10 cents a pound. ard a
single pound used as directed in a
garbage pail or open toilet RAY pre-
vent the breeding of hundreds OF
dangerous flies.
The details of the experiments
with borax and other larvacides will
be found in U. S. Department o: Ag-
lriculture Bulletin No. 11S.