412 SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



with a tightly fitting cover serves as a good receptacle. In 

 order that this method should be most effective, it is neces- 

 sary that all stables should take the same precautions. A 

 single manure pile uncared for will furnish enough flies to 

 infest a whole neighborhood, for flies will usually travel 

 about a quarter of a mile from their breeding places. A 

 covered bin does not entirely prevent flies from breeding in 

 the manure, but it is better than an open manure pile. 



Health departments. Much can be done by boards of 

 health in making and enforcing ordinances relative to the 

 destruction of breeding places. The health department of 

 the District of Columbia has issued orders to the effect that 

 all persons owning a building where domesticated animals 

 are kept shall provide for the storage of manure a bin so 

 covered as to prevent flies from entering; and this manure 

 must be removed from the city twice a week during the 

 summer and once a week during the rest of the year. 



In the country and in towns where there is no sewer con- 

 nection, it is important that sanitary privies be used to 

 prevent the access of flies to human excrement, and that 

 the privies be screened. No filth of any kind should be 

 allowed to accumulate about the buildings. Garbage cans 

 should be tightly covered and frequently emptied. 



Curative measures. Treating manure piles. Although 

 preventive remedies are the more important, until they are 

 in effective operation, much can be done through curative 

 remedies. These may be directed along two lines : first, to 

 kill the flies and the larvae ; and second, to screen one's self 

 and one's food from the flies. Numerous experiments have 

 been tried in treating manure piles with chemicals to kill the 

 larvae and pupae. One of the best substances is borax. This 

 is spread on the manure pile as a powder, and then the pile is 

 sprinkled with water, which dissolves the borax. This solution 

 kills the larvae and pupae. About a pound per week is re- 

 quired for one horse. Hellebore also has been found effective. 



