THE FLY PEST

Shannon News, 9 December 1927, Page 2

THE FLY PEST

To guard as much as possible against the undoubted nuisance of the fly pest, which in the summer is very prevalent, all rubbish should be promptly burnt, dust-bins should be covered\and every possible breeding place destroyed, all food covered, and nil decaying- vegetable matter burnt. Manure heaps, etc., should be treated with som e powerful disinfectant, and, more than all else, the interiors of dwelling places be well ventilated and washed with some disinfectant. Drains and sinks need very special attention. All foods and fluids should be kept covered and covered without delay. Use liberally carbolic, permanganate ol potash, and chloride of lime in solution. The first and the last-named disinfectants ar e rather disagreeable to the olfactories, but the unpleasantness produced by their use is out of all comparison with the evils against which they are arrayed. For the immediate present flies are not very numerous, but recalling the fecundity of a single fly, every solitary fly which makes its appearance should be persistently pursued and destroyed; that may mean th e extinction of sextillions! 11 is really worth consideration. A little carbolic acid brushed on the outside of lh e framework of the windows will be a great defence against the intruders, for their sense of smell is far n ore acute than ours is, so that the small quantity of acid sufficient to keep them at bay may not be perceptible to ourselves. If very troublesome and numerous, waive personal dislike, heat a shovel, sprinkle it with carbolic and banish the pests. This is a sur e remedy, but may be regarded as rather heroic.