Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-08
FOR HOUSEHOLD PESTS
SCIENTIFIC WAY OF SMOKING
THEM ALL OUT.
Department of Agriculture Finds
Nothing Can Stand the Fumes OF
Hydrocianie Acid.

After experimenting largely with all sorts
of gases and fluids for the determination
of household pests, the Department of Agri-
culture has decided that the most effective
substance for a thorough housekeeping of
this sort is hydrocianic acid gas. This is
not a particularly cheap disinfectant. as
the cyanide costs about 40 cents pound
and the sul?huric acid used with 1t about
cents. But though II is deadly poison.
the department has found 1t to be very eff
fective. and there have been no reports of
fatalities attending its
The gas has been used against reaches,
bed bugs, rats and mice and house flies.
being equally efIicacious in all cases. In
the case of rats and mice. especially, it
causes them TO come ont from the walls
to die. that. there is trouble with
dead animals in the walls after the fumiga-
ton is over. The department has issued a
bulletin the subject of these domestic
fum CATIONS.
Plan of Fumigation.
The plan. according to the bulletin. is to
use the combination of acid and cyanide in
slop jars or other deep earthen vessels. see
ing that they are sound and free from
cracks. as the acid will burn like fire any
thing il touches. The cubic contents of the
house to be fumgated should be taken
and allowance made of a fluid ounce of
Sulphur!C acid. dry ounce Of cyanide and
two ounces OF water to each 100 cubic feet
of air space. Thus. in one recent case
handled by the department. about twenty
two pounds of cyanide were used in four
teen-roOm house. The cyanide is set off in
a separate receptacle in each room, and if
the room is large. requiring two pounds or
more of cyanide, il is best to halve the
charge ard put it in two separate jars.
The calculation having been made as to
the air space, the house should be tightly
sealed from top to bottom. The jar for the
mixture is placed in the center of each
room, set a thick layer of newspapers
in case of breakage, as the combination of
acid and water generates n great deal of
heat. The water is put in the jars first
and the acid added slowly, never in the
reverse order. The cyanide is placed in
very thin paper bags. preferably with a
couple of Sits in the bottom to aid the en-
trance of the acid. and then two persons
start at the top of the house, gently de-
posting the bags in the jars and quickly
leaving the rooms working their way
down stairs and ont through the basement.
Closed for Four to Six Hours.
The house should remain closed for at
least from four to six hours. preferably
over night. and the next day should be
aired by opening the windows from the
outside. After the house has been aired for
an hour or more it will be safe to enter it.
The smell of the gas resembles peach ker-
nels, and till this odor entirely disappears
the place should not be inhabited The
most serious point to be remembered in
handling this furnigant is that the cyanide
is one of the most deadly poisons known,
and even small particle swallowed will be
fatal. When the Jars are through with
they should be empted in the sewer trap.
and any of the cyanide that is left over
should be sent after the contents. The
whole should be then thoroughly flushed
with water and the jars thoroughly washed
before being used for domestic purposes.
The cyanide gas is very penetrating, and
If used in a house in row arrangements
should be made with the, families on either
side TO move out while il is being used.
Detached houses can be funjgated without
this precaution. One room in house can
never be fumgated alone. as the gas will
work through the cracks in the floor and
walls. The one virtue of the gas. however.
is that it will rid the house of any sort of
animal life. even if 1t does require very
careful handling. 1t will not injure any
thing in the way of household effects except
that it will tarnish polished nickel and
brass, which should be removed 1t will
also spoil milk. butter and any soft foods
with which it comes in contact.