14 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It is hardly necessary to add, in view of the foregoing, that the 

 greatest care should be taken to exclude flies from the sick room, 

 especially in the case of contagious diseases. These pests not only 

 annoy the patient but may aid in carrying the germs to others. Ac- 

 cumulations of exposed fecal matter in the vicinity of human dwell- 

 lings should not be tolerated, since disease can be easily contracted 

 from such sources. Swill barrels should always be provided with tight 

 covers and care exercised that there be no leakage or accumulation 

 of fly-breeding material about the barrel. The old-fashioned box 

 privy should be abolished unless it is conducted on the earth closet 

 principle and the contents kept covered with lime or dry earth, so 

 as to prevent both the breeding and infection of flies. In this con- 

 nection it should be remembered that deposits of human excrement 

 in the open are equally dangerous. The modern water-closet and 

 cesspool is by far the best and safest method of caring for these 

 wastes. Such conveniences — one might well term them necessi- 

 ties — are no more costly than a long run of fever with its attendant 

 suffering and occasional death. 



It is obviously impossible to distinguish between flies bearing 

 disease germs and others. Consequently, it is extremely desir- 

 able to keep these pests from all food, particularly that to 

 be eaten without having been cooked. This is especially true 

 of milk, since it affords a favorable medium for the multipli- 

 cation of certain disease germs. It applies to dealers in food sup- 

 plies as well as to the home. A movement for the better protec- 

 tion of food supplies, now being pushed so vigorously by the Con- 

 sumers' League in New York city, might well be extended to other 

 localities. This important step toward better sanitary conditions 

 would receive an additional impetus if the public refused to patron- 

 ize provision stores, restaurants and hotels overrun by flies. 



Control measures. The foregoing account justifies the as- 

 sumption that numerous flies may be construed as indicating a 

 nearby and usually easilv eliminated breeding place. It should be 

 observed at the outset that these insects multiply most readily in 

 moist, organic matter, preferably in light places, and that at least 

 io days are necessary before the life cycle can be completed. 

 Domestic animals are still a necessity, though it does not follow 

 that the manure from stables must be thrown outdoors and allowed 

 to produce myriads of flies throughout the warm months, a condi- 

 tion frequently obtaining in the country. It is not necessary that 



