832 ORGANISED EFFORT IN CONTROL MEASURES 



the control of the fly pest should be the vendors of bread, milk 

 and other articles of food. Yet such has been the case in my 

 experience. Their voices, however, are becoming less powerful in 

 the council chambers where the stigma of insanitary conditions 

 has so long been disregarded, and the increasing number of con- 

 victions for maintaining nuisances and exposing milk and food 

 supplies to the attentions of flies and the dust of the street are 

 evidences of an awakening of the public conscience to its duty. 



While individuals or small numbers of people acting in co- 

 operation are seriously handicapped if they cannot look to the 

 local health authorities for assistance, the converse is equally true,' 

 for without the sympathy and the support of the people whom 

 they serve the health authorities cannot succeed in their en- 

 deavours to ameliorate the sanitary conditions of the people. 

 The zealous efforts of both individuals and of those in authority 

 are essential to success. 



It cannot be denied, however, in the light of what we now 

 know in regard to the habits of the house-fly and the effect of its 

 presence in numbers on the health of the community, that health 

 authorities should not only enact the necessary bye-laws that will 

 enable them to deal satisfactorily with the breeding j^laces of the 

 house-fly such as stable refuse, insanitaiy privies, collections of 

 organic refuse and the protection of food supplies, but that they 

 should enforce the same. There are signs that the time is slowly 

 approaching when one's senses will cease to be so distracted with 

 the reiterated statement that the nation's greatest asset is the 

 health of the people ringing in one's ears while filthy fly breeding 

 spots meet one's gaze and foul odours greet one's sense of smell. 

 The conscientious health officer is becoming more powerful than 

 the vote-seeking " representative of the people." 



Educational work is the most potent factor in dealing with 

 this question. This should begin in the schools. It is unnecessary 

 to change the curriculum but it is necessary that the teachers 

 should know the facts and know them correctly. The lessons can 

 be given as nature study or hygiene or both, and experience has 

 shown that children not only quickly appreciate the significance 

 of the fly but are singularly active in making practical use of 

 their knowledge. Such an organisation as the Boy Scouts can be 



