New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-30

circular
MOSQUITOES:
OF remedies against mosquitoes in houses the
best is thorough screening OF windows and
the placing of nets about beds. IL the insects
are troublesome in sitting or sleeping
during the evening. the burning of pyrethrum-
will so stupefy them TO make their presence
unobjectionable. Pyrethrum for this purpose
should be prepared by mOistening the powder
sufficiently TO allow of It's being roughly moulded
by hand into little cones about the size and
shape of a large chocolate drop. These cones
are then placed in a pan and thoroughly dried
in an oven. When fired az the apex such a cone
svin shoulder slowly and send up a thin column
OF pungent smoke, not huTtful 10 but
Supplying 20 mosquitoes In actual experience
two three such cones burned during the
course of evening have given much relief
from mosquitoes In sitting rooms. IL does not
Kill the insects however, and is at best but a
palliative.
The mosquitoes found on the ceilings OF bed
rooms in the evening may be quickly and easily
killed by means OF a small shallow tin cup
. tsuch as the lid of backing box) nailed 10 the
top of stick and wet inside with kerosene.
This cup is placed the quieScsnt mosquito,
which Immediately drops flies against the oily
surface and is killed.
Probably the best. and certainly the easiest, Of
wholesale remedies against mosquitoes is the
application of kerosene to the surface of breed
ing pools. The suggestion that Kerosene could
be used remedy for mosquitoes is not new,
and has been made more than once Exact eX-
perimeuts out Of doors and on a large scale were
made in 1892 by the writer; These and sub
sequent experiments show that approximately
one ounce of kerosene 10 each fifteen square
feet of water surface on small pools will effect
ually destroy all the Larvae and pup;s In that
pool. with the additional advantage that the
adult females not deferred from attempting TO
oviposit. are killed when they alisht on the
kerosene covered water. Ordinarily the appli-
cation need not he renewed for a MONTH though
varying circumstances may require more fire.
quent applications in certain cases.
Since 1892 several demonstrations on large
and small scales have been made of the prac-
supervision two localities rid of mosquitoes
by the use of kerosene alone. IL will, however
probably not prove feasible TO treat in this way
the large sea marshes along the coast where
mosquitoes breed in hordes.
The question, What is the best way to cover
with kerosene the surface of pool of some
size? is apparently needless since the operation
is obviously simple. but such question has been
asked OF the division. Simply pouring the oil
from any point of the shore will answer toll
erably well, since il will spread of itself; but IL
for any reason II is desired to coat the pool
rapidly with kerosene it may he advisable 10
spray the oil through spraying nozzle, either
from the bank or from boat. The method OF
class of pools which can be most advantageously
treated-namely those OF small siZa-the oil can
be well spread by throwing 1t on TO windward
with wide sweep of the arm.
FIEAs:
Judging from the specimens of heas sent to
the division of late years. with complaints of
houses infested by them, the human flea
Puiex irritans) is not the spseies likely 10
occur in great numbers in dwelling houses, but
rather the common cosmopolitan flea of the dog
and eat (Pulex serTatcepst. A house may be-
come INFESTED Win this species, even though
domestic animals be kept; for visitor at a
house where such pets maintained may be
the means OF carrying home with him two
female heas, which will stock his own premises
or course where pet dog cat is kept the
source of the infestasiOn is manifest
The worst cases Of infestation reported to this
division were where houses had been temporarily
unoecupied during the summer. Such houses
often become more or less damp, and. as a rule
the customary sweeping of the floors is inter
rupted, thus furnishing the very conditions
under which as we shall see. ieas most readily
propagate.
The eggs of Pulex serraticeps are deposited
among the hairs of cats and dogs. but as they
are not attached 10 the hairs numbers drop off
whenever the infested animal moves or lies
down. For eXperimenters who desire TO follow
out for themselves the life history OF the species
an easy way to collect the eggs Is therefore 10
lay strip of cloth carpet for the animal 10 |
sleep upon. and afterward to brush th,. cloth |
into receptacle, in which the eggs will he |
found in numbers If the animal is infested In |
this lies hint for the housekeeper who would /
keep pet dog or cat and yet avoid outbreak
of heas in the house. Provide rug for the
cat or the dog to sleep on, and give this rug |
frequent shaking and brushing afterward |
sweeping up and burning the dust thus re- !
moved. AS all the flea eggs on an infested ami |
NAL will not, however, drop off in this way and |
those which remain on IL will probably develop
successfully, IL will be found wise occasionalv
rub into the hair OF the dog or cat Quantity |
OF pyrethrum powder. II thoroughly applied |
IT VIII cause the neas TO fall OF In half stupe-