THE DOMESTIC FLY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1927, Page 3

THE DOMESTIC FLY

AX ENEMY TO HEALTH

“He’s probably the greatest communicator of disease with which we are acquainted,” said Dr T. 11. Eastertield, Director of the C'awthron Institute. Nelson, speaking of the domestic fly before the Appeal Board at Christchurch, in connection with the AVaimakariri River pollution, “For dessert he goes for sugar,” said tlie doctor. “Ho. can’t eat sugar unless it is dissolved. So he vomits on it. After a time lie swallows a part ol R, and leaves the rest. AVliere flies are in great numbers, infantile paralysis, summer diarrhoea, and a huge number of other troubles inevitably follow.” Dr Kasterfield put, in a graph in connection with the epidemic of summer diarrhoea in 1924 in Manchestei. “You will see from that that ns the number of flies increased so also the number of fatal cases increased; and as the flies were put out of the way the number of deaths came down he said. “A'ou will s*e that the curves show absolutely remarkable purallels. \Ye had a perfectly similar case in New Zealand in the military camps during 1916. Tlie position 1-ecame alarming until the matter was veiJ carefully studied by Brotessor Kirk He killed a quarter of a mil ion flic in the cook-house in one night. AA itl. the reduction in the number of fi.es there was a perfectly parallel .eduction in the admission to hospital “When precautions were neglected the flies increased, and also. uuml.ei- 0 f admissions to hospital. T ,1™ to the feet that the tea, distributee! over the land.” -