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tions were given regarding the preparation of sinks and their care, with 

 a direct indication of the danger of transfer of typhoid fever by flies. 

 These instructions were not followed, and the result was that over 21 

 per cent, of the troops in the national encampments in this country dur- 

 ing the summer of 1898 had typhoid fever, and over 80 per cent, of the 

 total number of deaths during that year were from this one cause.* 



This condition of affairs was not confined to the United States. 

 An epidemic occurred in the camp of the Eighth Cavalry at Puerto 

 Principe, Cuba, in which two hundred and fifty cases of the fever oc- 

 curred. The disease was imported by the regiment into its Cuban camp, 

 and Dr. Walter Eeed, U. S. A., upon investigation, reported to the 

 Surgeon-General that the epidemic "was clearly not due to water 

 infection, but was transferred from the infected stools of the patients 

 to the food by means of flies, the conditions being especially favorable 

 for this manner of dissemination. . . . "f 



In all the published accounts, and in all literature of closely allied 

 subjects, the expression used in connection with the insects has been 



Fig. 1. Musca domestica— enlarged. 



simply the word 'flies.' Nothing could be more unsatisfactory to the 

 entomologist than such a general word as this, except it were taken for 

 granted that the house-fly (Musca domestica) was always meant. It 

 has not apparently been realized that there are many species of flies 

 which are attracted to intestinal discharges, nor does it seem to have 

 been realized that, while certain of these species may visit, and do visit, 

 food supplies in dining rooms, kitchens and elsewhere, many others 

 are not likely to be attracted. 



In 1895, the writer made a study of the house-fly, not from this 



* Conclusions reached after a study of typhoid fever among American soldiers in 1898, hy Dr. 

 Victor C. Vaughan, a member of the Army Typhoid Commission, read before the annual meet- 

 ing of the American Medical Association at Atlantic City, N. J., June 6, 1900. 'Philadelphia Med- 

 ical Journal,' June 9, 1900, pages 1315 to 1325. 



t 'Sanitary Lessons of the War,' by George M. Sternberg, Surgeon-General, TJ. S. A., read at 

 the meeting of the American Medical Association, at Columbus, O., June 6 to 9, 1899. 'Phila. 

 Med. Jour.,' June 10 and 17, 1899. 



