OCR Text |
Show HEALTH -ADVICE By Dr. Morris Fishbein Editor, Journsl of k America M'-cl M'-cl Association This is the second in a series in which Dr. Fishbein discusses insects in-sects and parasites which afflict human beings. disturb the human being 4n tho summer than in the winter, al- houghthey are seen in portions of the country at any time. The" common flea is widely distributed. The first result of a flea bite is itching. Associated with the Itch there appears a small spot of inflammation. in-flammation. The amount of inflammation in-flammation and irritation vary in different individuals. Obviously the first measure in dealing with fleas is to eliminate them. Fleas breed in greatest numbers in soils or in dust containing con-taining vegetable or animal matter. mat-ter. Moisture must be present, but the breeding place of fleas is usually one protected -from the rain, the weather and the sun. Fleas breed most profusely under buildings and porches. In order to prevent the breeding breed-ing of fleas, porches and stairs ehtnilri be protft' trnm chick- ens and other animals. The areas in which the fleas breed may be protected and the fleas may be destroyed by spraying the area with creosote oil. The ground in which immature fleas develop may be covered with salt and thoroughly moistened. When fleas get into a house, usually they are brought in by pet animals. Therefore, it is useless to attempt to clear the premises of fleas without seeing that the fleas are removed from the animals. Animals should be washed with a solution of creosote or with coal oil emulsion. The skins of cats are more sensitive than are those of dogs. Solutions used in spraying cats must be less strong than those used for dogs. Usually carpets and furniture may be freed from fleas by scrubbing scrub-bing with soap and water and thereafter applying gasoline. The chief disease carried by . fleas is the plague. Fortunately, plague has been largely eliminated from the United States. Not all fleas look alike! so they are classified as the human Tea, the dog flea, the cat flea, the rat flea, the chicken flea and the stick-tight flea, depending on their habits and favorite living quarters. The greatest distance that a flea is able to leap horizontally is 13 inches and it takes a strong flea to jump more than seven inches in the air. It is. therefore, possible to prevent them from getting into the bed by placing sticky fly paper 13 inches wide on the floor around the bed. It is much better, however, to get rid of the fleas at their source. Many different preparations will relieve flea bite itching, most of them containing products like menthol, camphor and phenoL Since all of these products are Irritating, Ir-ritating, the proper proportions in any individual case should be selected se-lected by a physician. Next: The bedbug. |