104 DDT— Killer of Killers 



molested could become the parents, grandparents, etc., of 

 about six trillion descendents in about six months. 



If he were just a nuisance, we might grin and bear it, 

 hard as that might be to do. But there is considerable evi- 

 dence that old Musca domestica is public enemy No. 1, for he 

 has probably committed more murders than all the gangsters 

 and highjackers have ever committed. However, he is very 

 tricky: it is about as hard to get the evidence on him as it is to 

 convict a gang leader for anything except income-tax eva- 

 sion. Everyone believes him to be guilty, but no one has 

 been able to prove it. 



We all know that during the warm summer months 

 there are veritable epidemics of what is politely called "in- 

 tesinal flu," but which is actually a whole group of diarrheas 

 and dysenteries of bacterial or other origin. How these dis- 

 eases are transmitted is not clear, but since these are intes- 

 tinal diseases, the organisms that cause them are found in 

 copious quantities in human feces, and it is at least possible 

 that flies might carry the organisms from the feces of an in- 

 fected individual — or from sewage — to food which is sub- 

 sequently eaten by another. If this is true, better waste dis- 

 posal and a systematic campaign to eliminate the fly should 

 help to reduce the spread of infections. However, before 

 we place too much blame on the fly, we should be honest and 

 admit that there would probably also be less spread of in- 

 testinal infections if food handlers were more careful to wash 

 their hands thoroughly upon leaving the toilet. 



Flies and Polio 



Poliomyelitis, or, as it is commonly but inaccurately 

 called, infantile paralysis, is a dreaded disease. Few dis- 



