112 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Its early stages are passed in some moist, decaying matter, generally 

 horse manure or barn yard filth. It is not an uncommon thing 

 to find flies feeding on sputum and all kinds of filth; thus they 

 pick up a great number of harmful bacteria on their feet, mouth 

 and hairs and are carried to groceries and other eatables of all 

 sorts. Dr. L. O. Howard has estimated that the house fly is the 

 cause of 250,000 typhoid fever cases in America. As a general 

 rule flies do not travel more than two or three hundred yards away 

 from their breeding place. Bacteria have been known to live in 

 flies for three weeks. Thus flies can distribute bacteria in a great 

 many places without revisiting the source from which it first 

 received its deadly germs. 



Since flies are known to carry disease, it is very essential 

 to do everything to get rid of them in our homes. Proper screen- 

 ing of the house is one of the first requisites. The next step should 

 be to remove their breeding places. Manure should be removed 

 at least once a week. Chloride of lime sprinkled over the manure 

 each day will to a large extent prevent their breeding. 



I. 

 Flies may be killed by using the following : 

 I oz of formalin 40% 



16 oz of sweet milk 



16 oz of water 

 Pour this into a dish and set it where the flies can get at it. 

 It is always well to float a piece of cork or blotting paper on the 

 liquid so the flies can have more room to eat. Flies eat this readily 

 and are killed by the thousands. 



II. 

 The following has been used with good success : 



I cup brown sugar 



I cup of formaldehyde 

 Mix the two together. Should the solution dry up a little water 

 can be added from time to time. 



III. 

 Take an infusion of 



Quassia i pt 



Brown sugar 4 oz 



Ground pepper 2 oz 

 To be well mixed together and put in small shallow dishes 

 where required. 



