The Fly Pest | AdventAI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1910

_The Fly Pest_

THE fly season is on, and it now behooves every one to fight these disease-carriers vigorously. Of all pests, the common house-fly is now recognized as the worst in the way of carrying disease. It breeds in filth, it lives on filth, and it carries filth. It spreads disease germs on the meats, the milk, and the vegetables which the people eat. It is one of the most prolific causes of typhoid fever, tuberculosis, dysentery, etc., in that it carries the germs of these diseases to the food and the bodies of the people. The fight against these is being vigorously waged on all sides, especially by boards of health. Flies should be kept out of the house by means of screens, and in case some should slip in when the doors are temporarily opened, they should be caught on fly-paper or killed with fly-poison. The Merchants’ Association of New York City has issued the following rules for dealing with the fly nuisance, which it would be well for every one to observe:—

Keep flies away from the sick, especially those ill with contagious diseases. Kill every fly that strays into the sick-room: its body is covered with disease germs.

Do not allow decaying material of any sort to accumulate on or near your premises.

All refuse which tends in any way to fermentation, such as bedding, straw, paper, waste, and vegetable matter, should be disposed of or covered with lime or kerosene oil.

Screen all food, whether in the house or exposed for sale.

Keep all receptacles for garbage carefully covered, and the cans cleaned, or sprinkled with oil or lime.

Keep all stable manure in vault or pit screened or sprinkled with lime, oil, or other cheap preparations, such as are sold by a number of reliable manufacturers.

See that your sewerage system is in good order; that it does not leak, is up-to-date, and not exposed to flies.

Pour kerosene into the drains.

Burn or bury all table refuse.

Screen all windows and doors, especially in the kitchen and dining-room.

If you see flies, you may be sure that their breeding-place is in near-by filth. It may be behind the door, under the table, or in the cuspidor.

If there is no dirt or filth, there will be no flies.

If there is a nuisance in the neighborhood, write at once to the health department.—Boulder (Colo.) Daily Herald.