The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-01
GETS THE ChIGGER.
DR.. Crumbine Announces Simple
Relief and Remedy.

This time of year everybody that
goes on picnics is troubled with
measly little mites called chiggers.
These mites get onto one, bore holes
into ones skin and then squirm and
twist around in this little hole until it
drives one nearly crazy No preven-
tive agent has been discovered but
there are a thousand and one cures,
all more or less effective ~--1' '.-'
But hyposulfite of soda is said to be
the best cure that ever happened and
it is preventive against chigger bites.
That 1t was a remedy was discovered
accidentally. A Texas man mixed
solutions in taking a bath. He was
infested with chiggers but as soon as
he got into the bath tub he noticed
instant relief. He began an investiga-
ton and found that he had taken a
solution of hyposulf1te of soda instead
of toilet water. The next day he
made some further experiments and
gers reaching him and when they did
start digging into him that the ohypo
stopped it right away. @s-s ~ "a -
DIR. S. J. Crumbine, secretary of the
state board of health, heard about this
and i'll an article in the June Bulletin
of the state board of health, which
was issued last night the use of the
hypo is told as follows:
Most of the ordinary chigger RENE
dies have been personally tried with
y
relief at the best, so that repeated ap-
plications were necessary to fully sub
due an irritation. A chemical which,
in my opinion, possesses superior
merit above all previously known
remedial agents, is hyposulfite of soda.
This is the important fixing agent ex-
tensively used by amateur and pro-
fessional photographers. 1t can be
purchased at most drug stores, and is
not expensive. Dissolve this salt in
Id, orlx otr.r ffad cnls
ton, and moisten or bathe the spots
where chiggers have burrowed. The
pests are evidently killed when the
solution reaches them through their
burrows in the skin, and then the ir-
ritation ceases permanently, though
may be required for obstinate or deep
set cases. No harmful nor Disagree
able effect has attended the liberal use
of strong solution of this compound.
except a slight smarting IL the skin
should be sore from scratching. The
advantage which the use of this
chemical affords over other known
treatments against chiggers consists in
the repellant property of the salt, be-
sides its potency in suppressing the
malignant action produced by these
enemies when in the skim 1t acts as
a cure and preventive combined. In
order to ward off chiggers, the solu-
ton should be applied as needed to
as muCn OIL tne Douy dS pcCoiiics iioSSs-
sary 10 meet the extent of exposure.
To get full benefit, allow the solution
to dry on the skin without wiping. An
applica ton made early in the morning
before starting out to work has proven
sufficient to last day and even longer.
Having taken proper precautions in
this manner, a person can traverse the
worst infested thickets with impunity.
incidentally the fact might be
mentioned that a strong solution of
hyposulfite of soda is a valuable rem
edy for ivy poisoning. If the fnforma-
tion given should be the means of in
ducing an extended use of hyposulfite
of soda or any other suggested agent
with marked success against another
years chigger infestation, my efforts
to aid the people in securing comfort
and health in the face of these foes
will have served my object in making
the properties known for such pur-
nose