Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-06-03
How TO CATCH
THE MOSQUITO
Department of Agriculture
Issues a Bulletin.
tFrom the NEWS correspomdent.)

tFrom the NEWS Correspondent.)
Washington, June 3:-With the
coming of summer the thoughts of
thousands of Jerseymen are turned
toward the determination of the mos
quito, which comes early, goes late,
stings the while and carries malaria.
Having in view the prevention of
the fever-not to mention incidental
profanity-Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson has issued a bulletin, No.
444, that not only tells how to keep
the mosquito away, but of a new
means to catch it.
His first advice to bedroom aero
bats" is to start the campaign with a
homemade apparatus which he
recommends. This consists of a tin
cup or tin can cover nailed to the
end of a long stick in such a way
that a spoonful or SO of kerosene
may be held In 1t. With this simple
device the strategist takes advantage
of the "skeeter's' well known weak
ness for falling into a panic when 1t
%perceives that 1t is at bay. By ap-
preaching the insect s%tealthily and
surrounding it as it clings unsuspect-
ingly to the ceiling, the enemy
"a IL ~ IOSc us uSudi hichtdi
poise and self-possession, and down
1t goes to death in the kerosene.
This feat requires some dexterity
and practice, and probably no one
becomes accomplished in it without
a few accidents. For instance, one
of the commonest mistakes to guard
against is the stubbing of the toe
and the consequent splitting of the
kerosene down ones W neck, thus
bring disaster to the hunter instead
of the hunted.
Mosquitoes In the Corners.
In this connection, nothing Is said
about mosquitoes in rne or on
the side walls, but the supposition Is
that the scientific way is to shoe
them all to the ceiling, where they
will afford the best practice for the
new trapping device. In any event,
this is better than swiping at the
mosquito with a towel, slamming 1t
with a book, or endeavoring to cap
ture 1t under the palm of the hand,
for nine times out of ten this spells
failure. In considering the psyche
logical facts in connection with the
mosquito, 1t is we'll to note that If
caught under the hand it will not
beat about in a vain endeavor to find
some loophole of escape, but will
Turk in a small space and buzz away
at the first opportunity.
This bulletin of the Department of
Agriculture also tells of a mosquito
trap perfected by one H.. Maxwell-Le-
troy, of India. It is described as be-
ing a foot long, a foot wide and nine
inches deep, and lined with a dark
green baize. In the top of the box is
made a small hole to be covered with
a revolving disc Of wood or metal. Here
again is advantage taken of the mos
quitoes' natural weaknesses. This is
its desire to rest in some dark spot
after its strenuous labors of the night.
It usually chooses q dark corner, book
shelf or closet, and if these are made
understandable by the vigorous use of a
feather duster, or plenty of tobacco
smoke, the 'skeeters will make good
use of the trap as a temporary place
of abode. Then, a t~easpoonful or so
of benzine is introduced through a small
hole in the top of the trap, the mos
~quitoes inside are killed, the trap is
thoroughly cleaned and aired, again
hung up in some convenient spot, and
again it is ready for the work of the
day. Following out this method Mr..
LEROY has been known to catch as
manys as 83 mosquitoes in one day.
Use Moist Soap for Bites.
According to the bulletin, the most
satisfactory remedy for a mosquito bite
is moist soap. The end of a piece of
ordinary toilet soap is wet and rubbed
gently on the puncture, and the irrita-
ton will very quickly pass away. Other
methods are then brought up, the best
of which, are household ammonia, al
cohol, glycerine, napthaline moth balls,
iodine and the holding of the irritated
portion Of the skin against a hot lamp
chimney. Some of these methods are
more or less heroic, but they are all en-
Enthusiastically recommended to drive out
all irritation.
DR.. L. o. Howard, Chief Entomolo-
gist of the Department, advises oil of
citronella, one ounce, spirits of cam
phor, one ounce, and oil of cedar, one
half ounce, as the best mixture to
keep the mosquitoes away from a sleep
er. A few drops put on a bath towel
and hung over the head will make them
vanish. Where they are very abun-
dant or persistent a few drops rubbed
on the face and and hands will serve to
keep them away. Even this mixture
loses it's efficiency toward the close of
a long night, and for continued comfort
the operation should be repeated early
In the morning. For those who cannot
endure the odor of citronella, the fol
lowing mixture is recommended: Cas-
tor oil, one ounce; alcohol, one ounce
and oil of lavendar, one ounce.
The benefits to be derived from the
fund of knowledge contained in the
above mentioned bulletin of the D.
partment of Agriculture can be obtain
ed by addresses the member of Congress
from the State with the request for
copies.