London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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56
Prevention at home. This may be summed up in the three
measures; (1) cleanliness; (2) protection of food supplies; (3) use of
household fly killers.
1. The dirtier premises are, the more they are affected
with flies.
This applies also to the person, so that the cleaner the
house and contents are, the less attractive they become to flies.
2. Food is, of course, the great attraction, so this, when
not being used, should be kept covered. Odd pieces of food
should not be left uncovered unnecessarily; but if useless,
should be burnt, or if this is impracticable placed in the dust-bin.
3. The exposure in suitable places in rooms, infested with
flies, of fly-killers has been found to diminish them considerably.
Lately the following recipe for a fly-killer, has
been found very effective:—
One ounce of 40 per cent, formalin mixed with one
pint of milk.
This should be placed in shallow plates about the
rooms, with a piece of bread in the middle of each plate
for the flies to alight upon.