80 OPPOSITION 



greatest service ; but even then it should be used with 

 much discernment and discretion. 



The first suggestions of mosquito-reduction produced 

 a peculiar form of opposition which is hardly likely to 

 be repeated. There were people who said that it would 

 be wicked to reduce harmful insects like mosquitos, 

 because they were sent into the world to punish sinners, 

 and that the reduction of mosquitos would frustrate 

 the ends of an ever-watchful and vengeful Providence. 

 It is very difficult to answer persons who make diffi- 

 culties of this nature. It is better to leave them alone. 

 Let the mosquitos bite them or the flies annoy them 

 they will soon alter their opinions when they see their 

 neighbours' children healthy and their own sick and 

 ailing. 



Perhaps organised fly-reduction will interfere with 

 some important trade. In some places, in some rural 

 districts, manure is utilised for agricultural purposes ; 

 and the suggestion to destroy it once every week may 

 produce opposition from some farmers, contractors, and 

 others. Careful inquiries will soon dispel such opposi- 

 tion. If the manure is to be spread out over fields or 

 dug into land it will not breed flies ; this has been 

 proved by experiment. But if it is stacked the flies w r ill 

 breed in the stacks this is because of the warmth in the 

 stacked manure. This should be explained to those who 

 complain, and every care must be taken that such 

 manure is not treated with petroleum or slaked lime. 

 The inspectors must be instructed to allow some lati- 

 tude to such trades as require manure for agricultural 

 purposes, but they must see that manure stacks are not 

 allowed to remain for more than one week. In the 

 spring, manure is used in suburban gardens, and it is 

 sometimes allowed to remain in corners of such gardens 



