The Sentinel=record., 1914-07-26
BORAX WILL STOP
 TYPHOID BREEDING
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PRE. TENTATIVE FOR SPREAD OF
 TYPHOID FEVER.
Most Of the Typhoid Gets It's Start in Outlying Sections and Around Places Where Stock Is Kept Con stantly

Washington, D. C., July 25.--As a result of experiments, the specialists of the Department of Agriculture have discovered that as mall amount of ordinary boraX sprinkled daily on manure, wil effectively prevent the breeding of typhoid or house fly.
 Similarly, the same substance ap- piled to garbage, refuse, open toilets, damp floors and crevices in stables cellars or markets, will prevent fly eggs from hatcAing. BoraX will not kil the adult fly nor prevent it from laying eggs, but it's thorough use will prevent any further breeding
 The inyestheation, which included Experiments with many substances was undertaken to discover some means of preventing the breeding of flies in horse manure without lessen ing the value of this manure as a fertilizer for use by the farmer. It was felt that if some means of pre-. venting the breeding of flies near human habitation could be devised the disease spread by these filthy germ carriers could be greatly re- duced.
 While the Swat the Fly Cam paign," traps and other devices for reducing the number of typhoid car ryilg flies are of value, they are of less importance than the prevention of the breeding It was realized however, that no measure of prevent ing the breeding of flies would come into common use unless it was such that the former could use 1t on his manure pile without destroying it's usefulness for growing plants, and without introducing into the soil any substance that would interfere with his crops
 As a result of experiments carried on at the Arlington Farm, in Virginia, and New Orleans, La, the investiga- trs found that G2 of 8 pound Of borax, or .75 of a pound of calcined coleminte (crude calcium borate) would kill the maggots and prevent practically all of the flies ordinarily breeding in 8 bushels of horse man. ure for developing
 This was proved by placing manure in cages. and comparing the results from piles treated with borax and from Hntreated piles The borax, it was found, killed the fly egg and maggots in the manure and prevent ed their growth into flies
 In the case Of garbage cans or re- fuse piles. 2 ounces of borax or cal cined colemanite, costing from , cents a pound upward according to the quality which is purchased will effectually prevent flies from breed ing
 While it can be safely stated that no injurious action has followed the application of manure treated with borax at the rate of G2 pounds for 8 bushels or even larger amounts il the case of plants, nevertheless borax treated manure has not been studied in connection with the growth of all crops. nor has it's cumulative effect been determined.
 It is therefore recommended that not more than 15 tons of the borax treated manure should be applied per acre to the field. As such grow CTS use considerable more than this amount, it is suggested that all cars contained boraX-tredted manure be so marked, and that public health orficias stipulate in their directions for this theatment that not over .62 of pound for 8 bushels of manure lbe used as it has been shown that larger amounts of borax will iniure most plants.
 1t is also recommended that all public health officials and others in accommodating iborax treatment rT killing fly eggs and maggots in manure warn the pubic against the injurious effects of large amounts of borax on the growth of plants. Pur shasers of manure produced in cities during the fly-breeding season should insist that the dealers from whom they purchase give them a certified statement as to whether IT not the manure i1 the particular car or lot involved in the purchase has been treated with boray-
 In feeding hogs garbage that con tains borax care is also recommended especially whom the animals are be- ing fattened for market. Borax is not very 4oisonous substance nnd the feeding of garbage that contains it to hogs, Is not likely to be a ser