The Van Buren press., 1898-08-27
BISULPUIDE OF CARBON.
-hemistry's Dead1iest Enemy 20
Germs and Pests-New Applications
Constantly Being Made.

Bisulphide of carbon has become OF
late years one of the most useful agents
known to chemistry. 1t is eelorless,
ill-smelling liquid, which evaporates
so rapidly when exposed to the atmos-
phere that when a quantity of it is
poured out upon the grass in the sun
shine hoar frost rapidly forms about
the spot. Perhaps the most important
use of the bisulphide arises from its
quality as germicide. 1t is deadly
enemy to life, both animal and vege-
table. Its practical use as a germieide
and insecticide depends in large part
upon its rapid evaporation and upon
the fact that the resultant gas is much
heavier than atmospheric air
The very latest application of bisul-
phide of carbon was made the other
day by farmer in northern Delaware.
He poured quantity of the stuff down
a rat hole, waited beside the hole with
a club and in ten or twelve minutes
killed 25 rats. The liquid, eyaporating
as it went, formed a heavy gas that
quickly permeated every part of the
burrow below the vent, and the sutfo-
eating rats made for the open air as
rapidly as possible only to encounter
the farmers club. The astonishing
thing to those that know the deadly
character of the gas is that the rats
were able to reach the open air, for
many small animals have been known
to perish in a vain attempt to escape
the fumes Of the bisulphide.
Millers and the owners of grain ele-
vators lock upon the bisulphide of car
bon as one of their most useful agents.
When a mill, an elevator or granary
becomes infested with weevil, bisul-
phide of carbon is the cheapest and
most effective thing TO eSterminate the
pest. So deadly is the gas, however,
and SO rapidly does 1t act that the ut
most care must be taken in applying
the bisulphide 1t is usually sprinkled
over the grain from watering pots.
The liquid is rapidly converted into
gas and the latter sinks quickly
through the grain, carrying death TO
the weevil and even to the unmatched
eggs.
SO long as the persons applying the
liquid stand above the point of applica-
ton they are pretty safe from the
fumes. but occasionally the workmen
breathe little of the gus and have to
be removed at once to the open air,
as the heart is quickly paralyzed by the
action of the bisulphide. 1t is usual 10
treat the lower floors of a granary first.
so that those employed in the work
may keep constantly above the gas.
ANY animal, as a eat or dog, shut up
in an apartment where the bisulphide
is doing its work, Is found dead when
the place is opened.
The officer of an agricultural expert
ment station superintending the APP
plication of bisulphide of carbon to a
large farm granary, employed several
negroes to sprinkle the liquid over the
grain. He took the preeaution to have
them wear boots, but almost instantly
as they tramped over the newly
sprinkled grain they began to COM
plain of pains in their feet. One in
sisted that his feet were burning. They
were kept at the work with difficulty.
When they finally reached the open air
they were told to feel of their boots.
Each snatched away his finger, ex-
claiming that his boot was burning hot.
As matter Of fact, although it was
summer day, the boots were very cold
and the feet of the men slightly frost
bitten. The rapid evaporation of the
bisulphidc had greatly reduced the
temperature of the wheat, and it, in
turn had robbed the men of animal
heat.
As the bisulphide is not only fatal TO
life, but extremely explosive, it has TO
be handled with great care. In spite of
the danger attending its use, however
1t is more and more employed by farm
ers and others, and new applications of
the gas are constantly made. The pres
ent use seems likely to bring about
new application of the agent 1t has
been discovered that vermin have been
brought into the camps upon new gar
ments fresh from the sweat shops, and
the suggestion has been made that
hereafter all such clothing be treated
In the mass with bisulphide of carbon.
No stain or permanent i'll odor would
result from such treatment, as the ex-
tremely volatile character of the agent
causes the disappearance of every trace
of il when cloth thus treated is exposed
to the air. 1t is believed that the bisul-
phide would destroy not only the live
vermin, but the eggs as well.-N. Y.
Sun.