Fl.IES IN MILITAJIV STATIONS IN INDIA 239 



stations where there are in) filth trenches, or where they are a 

 considerable distance from the barracks, all have an admission-rate 

 below the average, niul all but one less than half the average." 



Jones (1907) gives an interesting account of his experience of 

 typhoid fever in the army at Nasirabad, India. He states : " We 

 have been led in this station to regard Hy infection as the 

 principal cause of the unenviable prevalence of enteric fever" — 

 and " Believing as we do that flies are the chief carriers of enteric 

 fever in India, any plan which gets rid of them is worthy of 

 consideration." Howard (1911) calls attention to the significance 

 of the method adopted by Jones to persuade the high-caste natives 

 to adopt and carry out his views. Making use of the word 

 " kakophagy " (excrement-eating) Jones writes : " I presume no 

 one wishes to be a kakophagist ; yet we are so in spite of our- 

 selves, if flies bred in filth pits alight on our food just before we 

 eat it." This kind of argument would surely appeal to the most 

 indiflerent high-caste native or other person who was inclined to 

 regard flies as "wholesome and appetising." Stratton (1907) 

 discussing the seasonal prevalence of enteric at Meerut, India, 

 states that the fever recurs with the reappearance of the dust and 

 flies after the rainy season ; during the monsoon there is a great 

 diminution of enteric. 



Ainsworth (190-S) has studied the relation between enteric 

 fever and climatic conditions at the military stations at Poona and 

 Kirkee, India. His conclusion is that it is highly significant and 

 at least suggests that a prima facie case has been established foi- 

 further investigation. By means of curves he illustrates the rise 

 and fall of the number of flies, the typhoid evidence and the 

 rainfall. As Nuttall, in referring to this paper, says : " The curves 

 given on pages 497 and 498 are certainly very striking, the fly 

 curve reaching its acme about two weeks before the maximum 

 number of cases of typhoid occurred." 



All these facts are equally applicable to the conditions in our 

 own towns and cities. Where the old conservancy methods are 

 used, such as pails and privy middens, the incidence of typhoid 

 fever is greater than in those places where the system of water 

 disposal has been adopted. I have examined the annual reports 

 of the medical oflicers of health of several large tow^ns where such 



