Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-28
WARFARE ON VERM|N
Some Experiments by Agri-
cultural Department.
BOON FOR HOUSEHOLD
HYDRoCYANIc ACID GAS WILL
EXTERMINATE PESTS.
Must Be Used Cautiously, as Fumes
Are Fatal to Human
Beings. =.

The Agricultural Department has de-
clared war on flies. cockroaches. bedbugs,
rats and all other household pests. IL the
general householder is minded to take adj
vantage Of its experiments and observe its
directions his dwelling place can be speed
lily and effectively rid OF every animal and
insect which now disturbs his family. This
result, beneficent as It is. is, moreover. not
to be the result of a long fight by the
housekeeper. 1t can be attained in one
night and at small expenses
Hydrocyanic acid gas is the chief ele-
ment of determination: This gas is well
known as a peculiarly dangerous COM
pound, and should be used. therefore. with
the greatest care. But the results of par
ticular experiments made by officials of the
department would seem to warrant twice
the amount of care necessary and four
times the cost of the acid.
The bulletin speaks for itself:
Susceptible to Cyanide Fumes.
Entomologists have long noticed that In
sects vary greatly in their susceptibility 10
cyanide fumes. Certain weeVils and cspe-
cially such weevils as LiXus and Spheno-
phorus and other hard-bodied forms. Will
frequently be left over night in a cyanide
bottle and recover after being removed. 1t
has been noticed also that in green houses
certain insects recover. The experience
gained. however. indicates that the use Of
hydrocyanic acid gas i'm houses is success
full against coCkroaches. bedbugs, clothes
moths, ants, white ants. house flies and
other soft-bodied insects: and as these con-
stitute the majority of the household pests
the use of the gas must now be considered
a standard remedy. Moreover rats and
mice also killed by its use.
Some entomoogists recommend as a
substitute for hydrocyanic acid gas a sub
stance which has been more or less e.
fectively used, viz. carbon bisulnhide. The
great danger in the use Of this latter sub
stance, however from its extreme inflam-
inability and eNplosiveness OF fits vapor
when confined renders il, perhaps, less
available and more than counteracts the
danger 10 human beings from the use OF
the hydrocyanic acid gas
Recent experience indicates that in order
to destroy the household insects mentioned,
one fluid ounce of commercial sulphuric
acid, diluted with two fluid ounces of water.
to increase the bulk of the liquid and insure
complete chemical action, and one ounce Of
high-grade COS per cent? cyanide Of potas-
SUM must be used for every 100 cubic feet
of space.
Just Before Nightfall.
Before performing the operation the
house must be vacated, and it is well to do
this just before nightfall. 1t is not neces-
sary to remove any of the furniture or
household belongings unless OF polished
nickel or brass, which may tarnlsh little
Liquid moist foods, as milk or other
larder supplies that are not dry and might
absorb the gas. should be removed from the
house. All fires should be put out, for,
while the gas will not burn under ordinary
conditions, it is as well to take no risks.
ION the floor of each room should be
placed a large porcelain wash basin. and
into each wash basin should be poured the
amount of water and sui
phuric acid. 1t may be Well to place under
each wash basin thick layer of newspaper,
in order to avoid damage to carpet or rugs
by the possible scattering of the acid act
ing upon the cyanide. All windows must
be closed, ard if they are not tight they
should be calked with thin paper or cotton
batting
Then the operator. beginning at the top
of the house, drops the proportionate
amount of cyanide Of potassium, previously
weighed out into thin paper sacks, into
each wash bowl, running rapidly from room
to room and instantly closing the door be-
hind him, descending ultimately TO the
ground floor or even to the cellar, running
finally into the open air through the open
door, which is instantly closed.
"Hydrocyanic acid gas is lighter than air
and consequently rises. Therefore. the op-
Grafton must be begun at the top Of the
house. The next morning the operator re-
turns to the house, opens the last door, al
lows a certain amount Of airing: then en-
tiers hurriedly and opens the windows of
the HTSl room or moor, tlen. after the
airing of this one, another in turn,
thus gradually airing the whole house. The
fumes quickly overcome and are fatal TO
human beings; hence the necessity for the
utmost care and greatest speed in the ini-
tial operation and in the subsequent airing
and the undesira bility OF performing the
experiment alone. The house should not
be renhabited until all trace of the odor
of the gas has disappeared. This odor re-
sembles that Of peach kernels"
Details of an Experiment.
The bulletin continues by giving the de-
tails Of an experiment made in a large
house in this city by Mr.. Marlatt OF the
chief entomologist's Office, a structure Of
such size that twenty-five pounds of cyan
de and a corresponding quantity OF acid
had to be used. Mr.. Marlatts success is
set forth in the following terms:
Inc results OF the fumigation were emil
lenty satisfactory; no living insects could
De found in the house. The reaches by
-nousands' mad come out from their hiding
places in vain effort to escape, and Rad
rushed to the cracks under doors and win
lows, and had there persisted. Sometimes
hey had the appearance OF being alive and
ibout to run, and touch was necessary to
that they were dead having
oeen arrested instantly while in motion,
heir limbs extended in the normal position
or running. Flies, reaches and bedbugs,
ma without doubt all the other household
PESTS. were killed. The bedbugs. against
which the fumigation was especially direct
I'd, were found dead in numbers under
runks and about the beds
The ingredients used were the as per
cent cyanide of potassium, costing about 40
'ents pound. The sulphuric acid was the
hick, almost sirupy commercial brand.
costing about cents a pound"
Death of ced Hindu n, ,pr;s,.