The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-21
Home Facts.

Ihc pyrethrum roseum, or PERSIAN
camomilc," Is the powdered leaf Of q
harmless flower growing In Caucasian Asia
IN great profuslon, whcro for centuries it
has been used to rid the natives of insects
With finely prepared dust made from
these flowers, which can be purchased of
almost any reliable druggist at about
seventy cents Il pound, the house fly, the
wicked flea and tho mosquito may all be
put to fight or to rest. In order to enjoy
this delicious riddancc 1t Is only necessary
to heap up with little cone one teaspoon
full OF tho drug pyrcthrum, touch it with
lighted match and watch the thin blue line.
OF smoke as 1t rises to the ceiling aud is
waited through the air, changing tho busy
dronc of insect life into weak wall of in
sect woe. Pretty soon down they come
plump on to the table and over your paper,
spin on their tiny backs and then shcathe
their lancets, curl up their hair-like legs
and interest one no more. Up stairs the
ittlc ones sleep unmolested, though there
are thousands Of mosquitoes in the room;
the pests are sick unto death, and cling
sadly to the walls, too feeble to think of
tapping the rich warm blood that flows in
ruddy little limbs just below; the fume of
the pyrcthrum has settled their business,
arc unwilling to make an entry, though the
windows arc raised and the lattlccs arc
only half closed. Gauzo bars arc hot,
stuffy things at best, and one must be sadly
driven to attempt to sleep under such a
cover; then, as VIC all know, tho mosquito
always finds his way through, no matter
how carefully one may tuck up Its folds
about the couch.
Smoke from tho Persian camomle or its
dusty powder we have found most effica-
clous, and your readers will bless me when
onco they try 1t. Tho purity of tho drug
must be assured. This can readily be
tested. 1t must hare a bright buff color;
be light, readily burned, and give pleas
ant, tca-like fragrance; one pinch should
Kill dozen flies. confined in bottle, at
once. When it fails of these properties 1t
has been adultcrntcd. In common use, III
large or breezy rooms, where, from great
dllulion, it fails to kill, it nevertheless pro-
duccs oil insect life, through its volatilizcd
essential oil or resin, undoubted nausea
vertigo, respiratory spasms, and paralysis
1t acts upon them through the minute spr-
aces, the breathing tubes, that stud tho
surfaces OF their little bodies, and form tho
delicate networks Of veins in their tiny
wings. TO human beings it is 80 far as l
can ascertain, entirely innoxlous, and not
disagreeable. That we-a family of eight
persons, infants and adults--haye lived for
several weeks in IN atmosphere of pyrc-
thrum dust and smoke combined, during
this present summer, is sufficient proof of
my statement. TO the skcpuc | recon-
mend an interesting experiment Put the
pyre!hrum into close, warm room, where
flies most love to swarm, just after dark.
shut the door, and make another visit III
IiiIIIy n1lnuI1s. uc SlSilL vi nihiiotiuur
and squirming vermin on tho floor will do
his heart good-that is, if he is human
beings and not IN angel.
Having drafted our plan Of battle against
these little foes. it becomes proper to speak
Of the care of tho wounded. TO cure
mosquito stngs, l know nothing better
than a twenty per cent. solution, in either
Oil or water, of pure carbolic acid. This
is to be rubbed we'll on the painful spot.
70 battle ones tingling hands and smarting
limbs with this solution, gives a cooling,
grateful sensation that is hard to describe.
Carbolic soap will DO almost as well, or an
ointment compounded OF carbol, camphor
and cosmolinc.