Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 167, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1912 — WHY WE DETEST PARASITES [ARTICLE]

WHY WE DETEST PARASITES

Feeling of Instinctive Revulsion Is Justified, for They Are Carriers of Disease. The feeling of Instinctive revulsion against parasites of all kinds which characterizes humanity generally, and which is due to something much more than the mere pain or annoyance that their bßes might Inflict, become more interesting as further discoveries show the role of Insects in the spread of disease. Unfortunately this natural abhorrence has not been enough to protect man under conditions of poYerty and uncleanliness from harboring such parasites, and now those who understand how much more than a mere personal annoyance is in question from the existence of parasites must take up the problem to eradicate them. The possibility of the bedbug conveying relapsing fever, typhoid and leprosy has been suggested and apparently there 1b bo parasite of man that may not be a mode of disease conveyance. Flies, fleas, mosquitoes and bugs not only are all under suspicion, but most of them are also actually demonstrated as ordinary and frequent conveyors of diseases of various kinds. Health authorities must now take up the problem es getting rid of insect parasites In order to stamp out disease. From the Journal of the American Medical Association. l •