224 THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS 



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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 

 6,000,000 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, 

 covering of all food when not 

 in use and especially the care- 

 ful screening of windows and 

 doors during the breeding 



There were 329 t^T^hoid cases in Jackson- 

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

 first 10 months of 1912. 80 to 85 



in 



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. 



