16 THE HOUSE FLY 



the soles of its feet, or upon the hairs which cover its body. 

 A savoury smell from a neighbouring kitchen is wafted 

 through the open window. Instantly a score or more of 

 flies, laden with disease germs, take wing and track that 

 smell to its source. Flies are constantly migrating from 

 house to house and incidentally carrying disease microbes 

 over the entire neighbourhood. Ever and anon they make 

 excursions to the various garbage boxes, the decaying car- 

 cases of dogs, cats, fowls, privies, latrines, manure, pig- 

 stys, foul expectorations and excreta of animals on the 

 roads, &c., and wing their way back to the shelter and per- 

 manent food supply of the dwelling-houses of their human - 

 folk victims. 



Contrary to general belief, it is not necessary for food to 

 be in a more or less liquid condition to be available for a 

 House Fly to feed upon it. Finding some foul filth in a 

 dry condition, it exudes a droplet of saliva from the end of 

 its proboscis and so moistens the food material and then 

 proceeds to suck it up. This can at any time be observed 

 by watching a fly eating a crystal of sugar. 



A fly after greedily sucking up filth from the garbage box, 

 the street, or the lavatory, comes sailing into a dwelling, 

 alights on a cake, a loaf, the cheese, or some other foodstuff, 

 and immediately begins the process of cleaning itself of the 

 loathsome filth which is teeming with disease microbes. It 

 combs, brushes and polishes itself long and patiently, 

 sending the dry filth, laden with microbes, in showers over 

 the food, which is subsequently eaten by one or more mem- 

 bers of the household. 



Perchance the dear little baby is lying sleeping peacefully 

 in his cot. A fly, laden with microbes of croup or some other 



