SEWAGE DISPOSAL IN RELATION TO THE PREVENTION OF FLY-BORNE DISEASES.

In the consideration of these measures we have not touched upon the remedies for house flies breeding in human excrement.  On account of the danger of the carriage of typhoid fever, the dropping of human excrement in the open in cities or towns, either in vacant lots or in dark alleyways, should be made a misdemeanor, and the same care should be taken by the sanitary authorities to remove or cover up such depositions as is taken in the removal of the bodies of dead animals.  For modern methods of sewage disposal adapted for farm use one should consult Department of Agriculture Department Bulletin No. 57.  In the absence of modern methods of sewage disposal, absolutely sanitary privies are prime necessities, whether in towns or on farms.  Directions for building and caring for such privies will be found in Farmers’ Bulletin 463 and in Yearbook Separate 712, “Sewage Disposal on the Farm.”  The box privy is always a nuisance from many points of view, and is undoubtedly dangerous as a breeder of flies which may carry the germs of intestinal diseases.  The dry-earth treatment of privies is unsatisfactory.  No box privy should be permitted to exist unless it is thoroughly and regularly treated with some effective larvicide.  Since the fecal matter in such privies is seldom used for fertilizing purposes it may well be treated liberally with borax.  The powdered borax may be scattered two or three times a week over the exposed surface so as to whiten it.

WHAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO TO ELIMINATE THE HOUSE FLY.

Antifly crusades have been very numerous in recent years, and some have been noteworthy both in methods and in results.  However, it will not be amiss here to emphasize the importance of concerted, organized effort on the part of whole communities, not only cities, but suburban and rural neighborhoods as well.  By the most painstaking care one may prevent all fly breeding on his premises, but it will avail him little if his neighbors are not equally careful.  Some sort of cooperation is necessary.  One of the first and most important elements in any antifly crusade is a vigorous and continued educational campaign.  It has been the experience of those who have undertaken such crusades that people generally regard the fly as a somewhat harmless nuisance and that the first work of the campaign was to bring the people to a realization of the dangers from flies and the possibility of getting rid of them.  In the educational campaign every possible means of publicity can be employed, including newspapers, lectures, moving pictures, posters, handbills, cartoons, instruction in schools, etc.