THE STABLE FLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1641, 7 January 1913, Page 8

THE STABLE FLY.

NEW MENACE SUSPECTED

'; The' discovery ,6f the mosquito as a ' bearer, of, malaria and yellow fover has permitted a rapid step forward, in the adnifntioh of tropical comitries, and, realso messed home the disease possibilities of the house fly. It .has remained ;for the stable, fly to he su.spcctsd,'.*at' least, of'beariii'g a ; disease ■more dread and mysterious than, any of. tho foregoing. .S • ■'■ • ■In studying :the surroundings of numer-' -oiis ca«;9 of 'infantile paralysis,. O. T. r ßntes, assistant entomologist of the Bns;«ey Institution, Harvard University, and Dr. P. ■A'.-'E.'-Shoppard, 'of the Harvard. 'Medical School, have found that the outbreaks of the- disease'' and 'the breeding "habits 'of/ the" stable fly. are practically coincideijt. .The.disease .in general, most common in rural districts, ,'is not contagious, and is so sporadic in occurrence that ■it seems:«s'though'it must-.bo due' to an insect .carrier. .Specimens:- of the fly ■ have'been collected on NoW Lrigland farms -.where -infantile paralysis ■'■' has occurred, and.'Messrs. 1 Brues and Sheppard ,have of :late'been, experimenting with them in or,dcr to definitely- determine* whether they are the'bearers of'the diseases. The only, animal that has: tho disease, in the sanie' !fofm as man is tho 1 monkey, and it is with these'animals that experimentation is be•ing'corried on. , : : .' . „'.'-.As.a sequel.to .tho:disease.. : on several farms,;, a, peculiar .-form' of paralysis : i.ii. swine, and horses has-beeii found. It is unknown',tq alii the:.: veterinarians who 'have been called ; upbn, and very 'probably l is a. - form : . of. the'disease' in question. Tho ahimnls'nre occasionally affccted_ fatally, ■but it usually produces a paralysis of the hiridparts that may persist for life. It -is stated) that- jthis condition in animals that have recently, borne young is com'■monly attributed 'to .parturition; troubles, - bnt ; very -probably 1 -the-I difficulty lies in ■,"some;;form'"6f'the'paralysis under discus-' ': , y ■'.■■':'/ '. ■.'.':•"'■ ■'~■ :