388 
C. GOEDON HEWITT. 
enteric fever that occurred in 1898 in the United States 
during this war came to the conclusion that “ flies undoubtedly 
served as carriers of the infection” under the conditions 
which have already been described. Many other authorities 
bear witness to the same facts. 
In our own South African war, a year or two later, the 
same conditions existed, and there was a very heavy loss of 
life frotn enteric fever, Writing on the subject, Dunne 
(1902) says: “The plague of flies which was present during 
the epidemic of enteric at Bloemfontein in 1900 left a deep 
impression on my mind, and, as far as I can ascertain from 
published reports, on all who had experience on that occasion. 
Nothing was more noticeable than the fall in the admissions 
from enteric fever coincident Avith the killing off of the flies 
on the advent of the cold nights of May and June. In July, 
Avhen I had occasion to visit Bloemfontein, the hospitals there 
Avere half empty, and had practically become conA^alescent 
camps.” A similar experience is related by Tooth (1901). 
Referring to the role of flies he says : “As may be expected, 
the conditions in these large camps Avere particularly favour- 
able to the groAvth and multiplication of flies, Avhich soon 
became terrible pests. I Avas told by a resident in Bloem- 
fontein that these insects Avere by no means a serious plague 
iu ordinary times, but that they came Avith the army. It 
Avould be more correct to say that the normal number of flies- 
was increased owing to the large quantities of refuse upon 
Avhich they could feed and multiply. They Avere all over our 
food, and the roofs of our tents Avere at times black Avith 
them. It is not unreasonable to look upon flies as a very 
possible agency in the spreading of the disease, not only 
abroad but at home. It is a Avell-known fact that Avith the 
first appearance of the frost enteric fever almost rapidly 
disappears. ... It seems hardly credible that the almost 
sudden cessation of an epidemic can be due to the effect of 
cold upon the enteric bacilli only. But there can be no doubt 
in the mind of anybody Avho has been living on the open 
veldt, as Ave have for three or four months, that flies are ex- 
