THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS 



Showing how flies may spread disease by 

 means of contaminating food. 



been laid at their door. In a 

 recent experiment two young 

 men from the Connecticut 

 Agricultural Station found that 

 a single fly might carry on its 

 feet anywhere from 500 to 

 6,600,000 bacteria, the average 

 number being over 1,200,000. 

 Not all of these germs are 

 harmful, but they might easily 

 include those of typhoid fever, 

 tuberculosis, summer com 

 plaint, and possibly other 

 diseases. A recent pamphlet 

 published by the Merchants' 

 Association in New York City 



shows that the rapid increase of flies during the summer months 

 has a definite correlation with the increase in the number of cases 

 of summer complaint. Observations in other cities seem to show 

 the increase in number of typhoid cases in the early fall is due, 

 in part at least, to the same 

 cause. A terrible toll of dis 

 ease and death may be laid at - 

 the door of the typhoid fly. 



Recently the stable fly has 

 been found to carry the dread 

 disease known as infantile 

 paralysis. 



Remedies. Cleanliness 

 which destroys the breeding _ 

 place of flies, the frequent re- _ 



moval and destruction of gar 

 bage, rubbish, and manure, There were 329 typhoid cases in Jackson- 



covering of all food when not 

 in use and especially the care 

 ful screening of windows and 



doors during the breeding 



ville, Florida, in 1910, 158 in 1911, 87 

 in first 10 months of 1912. 80 to 85 

 per cent of outdoor toilets were made fly 

 proof during winter of 1910. Account 

 for the decrease in typhoid after the 

 flies were kept out of the toilets. 



