The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-11
SANITARY CHIEFS. TO PAPE ERS'
 IN HEALTH |SSUES|
Dr. Kibbey Says Problem Of Controlling Flies Must Be-
 gin At Source

Alabama county board of health in- spectors began Tuesday morning at the health department offices. in the city hall. About 25 inspectors from various parts of the state were present, Dr. c. H. Kibbey and in- spectors from the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company; c. A. Abele, T. A. Belser, and T. B. S. Matthews of the state board of health, and Dr. w. K. Sharpe, Jr., of the United States health service were among those who attended
 The first paper, The Rela ton Be- tween the Sanitary Inspector and the County Board of Health and the Nun icipal Officials" was read by H. J. Thrasher, chief sanitary inspector of the Madison county board of health. Following this, J. P. Anderson, of the Lauderdale county board of health, spoke on Community Organization for Public Health Work" In the dis cussion following, Dr. Kibbey and pr. W. K. Shape, Jr., spoke on phases of the problems occurring In the work importance of sanitation in connec- ton with general health work.
 The Interesting of Illiterate Peo- pie of the Rural Sections in Sanita- tion" was the title of the paper de- llvered by G. A. Box, sanitary in pPNNbOA OA tllG LlIHtSIOnS county board of health. Discussion on this was led by I, B. Bright, inspector for Sumter county. Other papers presented at the first days sessions included Motion Pictures in Coun- ty Health Work" by J. L. Crockett. sanitary inspector Pike county, and rBottling Plant Sanitation and Hygiene" by T. B. S. Matthews. deputy inspector, state board of health.
 Controlling Flies.
 c. H. Kibbey. chief sanitary officer Of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Rail- read company, was the speaker at the meeting Tuesday evening at the Hotel Tutwiler.
 No person doubts any longer that the fly plays an important part in the spread of many of mans infec- tlons,' he said This applies espe- cially to the intestinal infections, as typhold' dysentery, summer com pIalnt, etc, so prevalent during the warmer months. The evidence that this is the case is convincing and abundant. Of the seven thousand an nual deaths from typhoid, more than 1000 occur during the five months having the greatest abundance of flies. Over 10000 persons die every year from the various forms of bowel complaint not all of which are infective. More than 3O,000 of these deaths. however, occur during fly season.
 The fly has been definitely con- victed of the carriage of more than half hundred different kinds of in lection. The list is long and in ciudes typhoid fever. the dysenteries, the infectious diarrhoas of children (such as cholera infantum), tuber- cuiosls, anthrax, foot and mouth dis ease, cholera, bubonic plague, infan- tie paralysis, cerebro-spinal mening- itis. pink eye, diphtheria, erysipelas. and nd 80 on through the long list.
 90 intimate Is the relation be- tween the fly and the spread of such infections as typhoid and the dysen- teries that a spot map of almost cases of these diseases. will per- fectly outline the unsanitated areas, which are the ones offering the greatest facilities for the transfer of contamination by the fly. The but of all living things has the best opportunity for the transfer of filth from it's source to unscreened kitch- ems and dining rooms.
 Aim at Root. of Evil.
 Notwithstanding much that has been said about other methods of control for the fly borne infections. substantial results will never be attained until our efforts are aimed at the root of the problem-fly breeding. Fly swatting campaigns can never have any appreciabie ef- feet on the incidence of fly borne diseases. The value of such a cru sade lies In It's tendency to attract public attention, and 1t may serve to stimulate interest in other health movements.
 "As copo never hope to have homes screened with sufficient thoroughness 70 greatly minimize the fly carried diseases. The wholesale protection of food from flies is another phase of the problem so dependent on the proportion of the population as to insure more or less complete fail ure of accomplishment.
 The control of the fly transfer red Infections stands out as one of the most important and one of the neglected. problems of modern sant- tation. Imagine the effect of the methods used for fly control when applied to mosquito control. Yellow fever would still be prevalent and the Panama canal would still be the impractical dream of a crazy man.
 Flies can breed in almost any organic matter which provides the essentials of food, moisture and warmth. The prevention of such breeding is generally possible, but must be done by person intelligent, interested. and proficient in the work. The simple following of rule is not enough"
 Dr. Kibbey described fly breed ing conditions around the camps of the Tennessee company and the methods of control which have proved most effective in preventing fly breeding. The placing of ma tnure in tightly closed receptacle for four or more weeks has been found to completely destroy 1t as a fly breeding medium, without ap- parently affecting the fertilizins value. An appropriation has recent ly been made by the Tennessee com pany for the construction of con- crete manure disposal pits at sev- eral of the industrial villages of that corporation.